Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPast Trauma Side EffectsWhat Is Traumatic?Why Letting Go Is HardHow to Let Go of Past TraumaTalking to SomeoneResources for Help
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Past Trauma Side Effects
What Is Traumatic?
Why Letting Go Is Hard
How to Let Go of Past Trauma
Talking to Someone
Resources for Help
Traumais an emotional response to an overwhelming and threatening event. Part of the process of healing the emotional and physical pain associated with these events is knowing how to let go of past trauma.
Traumacan result from adverse life events inchildhoodor adulthood,abuse,relationship violence,assault,loss, and more.
Making sense of a traumatic incident and its aftermath is hard. Healing may feel impossible. However, trauma-informed care and effective treatment options are available to help individuals begin to mend emotionally and physically after an event.
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Rates of trauma are relatively high, meaning many of us have been exposed to harmful or dangerous situations.
A review of trauma literature noted approximately 60% of men and 51% of women reported experiencing a traumatic event in their lifetime.What’s more, many adults will experience multiple traumatic events.
Reactions to trauma can beacute or long-term. Traumatic events can lead to disturbances or decline in emotional, physical, and interpersonal well-being. In some instances, reactions to trauma can lead to a diagnosis ofpost-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD).
Examples of traumatic responses may include:
What Is Considered Traumatic?
An event or situation may be considered traumatic when it causes psychological and emotional distress that hinders your daily functioning.
Examples of Traumatic EventsSituations and events that may be traumatic include, but are not limited to:Sudden death or loss of a loved oneDivorceor end of a significant relationshipPhysical,emotional, or sexualabuseAccidentsAssault or other violenceCombat or exposure to elements of warSurviving a natural disasterChronic or extremestress
Examples of Traumatic Events
Situations and events that may be traumatic include, but are not limited to:Sudden death or loss of a loved oneDivorceor end of a significant relationshipPhysical,emotional, or sexualabuseAccidentsAssault or other violenceCombat or exposure to elements of warSurviving a natural disasterChronic or extremestress
Situations and events that may be traumatic include, but are not limited to:
What elicits a trauma response in one person may not produce one in someone else.
People may also have varying degrees of reaction to trauma. Some may have acute or shorter reactions that they can work through independently. Conversely, others may have a more challenging time dealing with distress related to the incident for longer periods.
It’s normal to have difficulty recovering from trauma or pain from the past. Just because the experience is over doesn’t mean you haven’t been deeply affected. It can take time to recognize and understand what’s happened and what it means for you.
Letting go implies that we are releasing ourselves from parts of the past. This can be challenging when we’ve createdbondsor have meaningful memories attached to people, places, and things.
Human beings also have a hard time with change. Taking in or making sense of situations that affect how we see ourselves and the world is a complex task.
Freedom in Letting GoLetting go can be scary. It doesn’t mean you’re minimizing or invalidating your experiences. On the contrary, it can be an act of freedom and healing.
Freedom in Letting Go
Letting go can be scary. It doesn’t mean you’re minimizing or invalidating your experiences. On the contrary, it can be an act of freedom and healing.
Some strategies to help improve your mental health and well-being after trauma include the following:
Relationships
Relationships involve emotional proximity, vulnerability, and intimacy. Events leading to trauma in a relationship may be recurring, making healing complex. It can help tocreate boundariesfor yourself during healing, connect with trusted individuals, and find a safe environment.
Death
Losing a loved one is earth-shattering. Witnessing the death of another or sudden death can complicate the loss.
Many people will go through the stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance), but everyone’s process with grief is unique. Part of healing is understanding that grief is an ongoing process.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Anger
Anger is a valid emotion and often a guide to our emotional or physical needs. It’s normal to feel angry after a traumatic event or relationship.
Other emotions often come with anger. It can be a signal that something deeper is happening. Finding healthy ways to channel this emotion can help you cope.
Control
Traumatic situations often involve incidents where someone didn’t have control. The anxiety and fear that surfaces can be overwhelming. While healing, it can be helpful to focus on areas that you can control to create feelings of safety.
Regret
Trauma can lead to feelings of guilt, self-blame, or regret. Individuals may feel shock, survivor’s guilt, or blame themselves thinking about what they could have changed or done differently.
The reality is that those actions may not have changed the outcome. Addressing these thoughts, feelings, and beliefs can help with moving toward acceptance.
When to Talk to a Therapist
After a traumatic event, chances are you don’t feel like yourself. It may be hard to think of yourself getting to a place where you feel better. The pain and aftermath of a traumatic event can be short-lived or chronic.
Getting professional help can make a world of difference.Therapyprovides a confidential, safe, and open environment to discuss and begin healing.
Reasons you might consider talking to a therapist include:
There are therapists with additional training who specialize in treating trauma. When choosing a therapist, ask questions about their education, experience, and training to determine if they’re the right fit for you.
To help you heal from trauma, a therapist may utilize:
A review of trauma treatments supported the effectiveness of these interventions in improving functioning.Gaining skills to cope with distress and addressing trauma-related thoughts and feelings are goals in therapy.
Ultimately, you can work closely with your therapist to determine the best approach to starting your healing journey. In some cases, a therapist may recommend consultation with a psychiatrist to determine whether medication may help alleviate symptoms.
It can be hard to know when to reach out for help. However, an event or situation causing you significant psychological or physical distress can be an emergency. Seeking support is crucial if you are having suicidal thoughts, or experiencing new or worsening mental health symptoms, or are physically hurt.
The following resources are available 24/7:
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call911.
Summary
Trauma is the emotional, mental, and physical distress that can occur in the face of overwhelming or terrible events. What one person perceives to be traumatic may be different from another person. The effects can be overwhelming. Focusing on your mental and physical well-being and seeking therapy can help you heal.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Trauma-informed care in behavioral health services.Scheffer Lindgren M, Renck B.Intimate partner violence and the leaving process: interviews with abused women.International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being. 2008;3(2):113-124. doi:10.1080/17482620801945805Watkins LE, Sprang KR, Rothbaum BO.Treating PTSD: a review of evidence-based psychotherapy interventions.Front Behav Neurosci. 2018;12:258. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00258
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Trauma-informed care in behavioral health services.Scheffer Lindgren M, Renck B.Intimate partner violence and the leaving process: interviews with abused women.International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being. 2008;3(2):113-124. doi:10.1080/17482620801945805Watkins LE, Sprang KR, Rothbaum BO.Treating PTSD: a review of evidence-based psychotherapy interventions.Front Behav Neurosci. 2018;12:258. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00258
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Trauma-informed care in behavioral health services.Scheffer Lindgren M, Renck B.Intimate partner violence and the leaving process: interviews with abused women.International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being. 2008;3(2):113-124. doi:10.1080/17482620801945805Watkins LE, Sprang KR, Rothbaum BO.Treating PTSD: a review of evidence-based psychotherapy interventions.Front Behav Neurosci. 2018;12:258. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00258
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Trauma-informed care in behavioral health services.
Scheffer Lindgren M, Renck B.Intimate partner violence and the leaving process: interviews with abused women.International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being. 2008;3(2):113-124. doi:10.1080/17482620801945805
Watkins LE, Sprang KR, Rothbaum BO.Treating PTSD: a review of evidence-based psychotherapy interventions.Front Behav Neurosci. 2018;12:258. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00258
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