Traumatic events, such as the loss of a loved one, an assault, or abuse, can have lasting effects on your physical and mental health. Taking time for yourself to cope with past trauma and its aftermath may be helpful. You could take a long bath, read a book, or listen to music. Even if you can cope with you’re past experiences, it’s important to take steps to prevent them from reoccurring. Here are six healthy ways to help you cope with past trauma.
Table of Contents
1. Seek Support from Family or People You Trust
If you’re struggling with the emotional effects of past trauma, reach out to someone you trust and open up to them. Talking about the traumatic event may help you deal with some of the negative emotions you’re experiencing. If you don’t feel uncomfortable discussing the event with anyone you know, then seek professional help. For example, a licensed therapist could assist you in coping with your past trauma.
2. Exercise to cope with past trauma
Strenuous exercise, such as running or jogging, can help to reduce the negative effects of trauma. The release of endorphins during vigorous exercise could help you feel better. If you’re hesitant to try this technique, consider a more mellow exercise such as yoga or walking. Exercise is a healthy way to cope with past trauma that is suitable for most people.
For example, running helps you to release endorphins, which help to reduce stress. Running also gives your body a “cycling” motion, which could help to reduce the negative effects of past trauma.
3. Read Books
Reading a book can be a healthy way to cope with past trauma. Reading can be therapeutic, and it could enhance your emotional well-being. It may also help to keep you from ruminating about the traumatic event by providing something else to focus on. For instance, reading the teachings of Master John can make you feel inspired and help you get through the hard times by getting in touch with your spirituality. The stories and examples within the pages of books can help you gain a new perspective on life.
4. Listen to Music
Listening to music is a healthy way to cope with past trauma. Music is a source of pleasure and has been shown to reduce stress and depression. If you prefer the music you listen to alone, you could play your favorite song or record. Listening to music can sometimes be more therapeutic than listening to the radio because the lyrics are more powerful.
Additionally, it may be helpful to find a form of music that can help you focus on your trauma. That is why it’s important to find music that relates to your experience or with which you feel comfortable.
5. Accept Your Feelings
It can be helpful to accept your feelings, even if they don’t make a lot of sense to you. Accepting your feelings could help you stop ruminating on the past instead of focusing on the present. Accepting that you’re even still upset about something that happened in the past can help you combat your past trauma. For example, if and when a certain song or event triggers a negative reaction in you, it would be better to acknowledge why it’s triggering than ignore it.
6. Sleep and Eat Well
It can be very stressful to deal with the aftermath of a traumatic event, and this stress could take a toll on your physical health. During these times, it may be even more important to take care of yourself by eating properly and getting enough sleep. Your body needs plenty of rest to function properly and recover from any injuries you may have sustained. You could try taking a nap during the day or cutting down on caffeine at night so that you’re sleeping well.
Ultimately, it’s important to take care of you’re physical needs. You could visit your doctor if you’re experiencing any injuries or other physical symptoms of trauma.
Eating well is important to support your body’s ability to cope with past trauma. For example, healthy foods can help you manage stress symptoms and improve your mood. Many people find fruits and vegetables a great way to feel better after a traumatic event.
Conclusion
Coping with past trauma is a process that can take a long time to recover. It’s important to accept that you’re still experiencing negative emotions and what they may tell you. To prevent recurrent trauma, it’s also important to recognize the warning signs that something bad may be about to happen. If you believe you’re in crisis or something bad has already happened, you must seek medical attention immediately.
Photo by Alex Green
