Will I ever feel OK again? Coping after a traumatic event

If you have experienced a traumatic event or events in your life, it can be very hard to move beyond it.

Trauma can arise from any experience that feels shocking, frightening or overwhelming, leaving a lasting impact on both our emotional and physical wellbeing.

These experiences can happen in childhood or adulthood and may include accidents, assaults, abuse, medical trauma, or the sudden loss of a loved one.

Trauma can also be stored in the body after a childhood where there was some emotional neglect, for example. It does not need to be one big, traumatic experience in order for us to feel our nervous system is on high alert.

Any experience or number of experiences that overwhelms our inner resources at a moment in time can cause us to experience trauma.

In the immediate aftermath of trauma, the brain often responds with shock or numbness.

This is the nervous system’s way of protecting us from feeling the full force of what has happened.

Trauma is deeply personal; what feels traumatic for one person may not be for another.

Witnessing an accident, experiencing a traumatic birth, or living through an unexpected bereavement can all be stored in the body as trauma. As I mentioned above, any experience that feels like more than we can cope with at a particular time can result in symptoms of trauma in our nervous system.

When the initial shock begins to fade, we may notice impact such as persistent anxiety or fear, low mood, tearfulness, difficulty concentrating, intrusive or frightening thoughts, flashbacks, anger or irritability, disturbed sleep or nightmares, avoidance of certain places or people, and a gradual withdrawal from family and friends.

We may feel it is difficult to feel like our 'old selves'.

It may be hard to feel like we belong in social situations like we did before the event(s).

These are all normal responses to trauma.

However, when these symptoms persist or begin to interfere with daily life, it may be a sign that some extra support is needed.

Trauma-informed psychotherapy offers a gentle and supportive way to work through these experiences.

Rather than focusing solely on the event itself, trauma-informed therapy pays close attention to how trauma is held in the body and nervous system.

It helps people feel safe enough to process what has happened at their own pace, without re-traumatisation.

I do not believe in people reliving traumatic experiences in therapy-  healing comes from a safe, paced experience of learning how to feel safe again in our bodies after a traumatic experience.

Through increased awareness, regulation and compassionate understanding, therapy can support the release of stored trauma, reduce overwhelming symptoms, and help you reconnect with a sense of safety, choice and control in your life.

Talking to trusted friends or family members can be an important first step, and seeking support from your GP or a qualified trauma-informed psychotherapist can help you begin the healing process and move forward with greater ease and most importantly, a renewed sense of safety.

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