Trauma from the past, whether it was a physical injury, a mental condition brought on by something that happened, or anything else that might go towards making a situation almost unbearable, can have a devastating impact on the present and the future. In some cases, past trauma can certainly lead to depression or PTSD, for example, and even if it doesn’t, every decision you make going forward might be linked to it, as you won’t want to make an error that puts you back in that position.
This is why it’s best to deal with the trauma in as positive a way as possible rather than ignoring it, which might be your first thought. It’s easier to ignore something you don’t want to think about and hope that it won’t cause you any problems than it is to confront it, but the long-term results of this latter idea are much better. With that in mind, read on for some ideas on what to do after suffering trauma to make your life easier once more.
Find Out Who You Are
Going through something awful can change you as a person. This could be a physical change due to an injury, but it can also be a mental change because of what you went through. These changes can be dramatic, and they need to be addressed.
No matter what happens, you can look at this as a chance to discover who you really are. It might be that you want to change how you go about your life, and now you can do it. You could change jobs and do something you’ve always wanted to do or take up a hobby or get fitter and healthier. You could leave a bad relationship or start treating yourself better. Whatever it is, although you will not have wanted the traumatic event to have taken place, if you can make good come from it and change your life for the better, that’s something at least.
Seek Professional Help
You might want to deal with your trauma by yourself, and this is perfectly understandable; most people will want to do this, as they won’t want to burden anyone or be bothersome. They may also be ashamed or scared to tell anyone what happened, especially if they feel they are to blame.
However, holding everything inside will make the aftermath even harder to deal with. This can cause stress which leads to high blood pressure and heart attacks, among other health issues. Plus, it can make any depression or anxiety you have even worse.
There are many different professionals you can speak to depending on the outcome you want. You might feel the need to talk things through with a therapist, for example. Don’t forget that you may also need the assistance of personal injury attorney Jeremy Rosenthal as well; if you can claim compensation for what happened, you can do a lot more in the future.
Give Yourself Time
Perhaps the most important piece of advice you can receive when it comes to what you need to do after a traumatic incident is that you will need to give yourself time. You won’t feel like your old self right away, and it could take many years to get to a point where you feel you are back to where you were (assuming that’s where you want to go back to).
Don’t rush things, and don’t try to do anything until you’re ready. It will take you longer to heal if you do, and that’s not something anyone wants.
Thank you for shredding light on mental health issues that usually go ignored & under-acknowledged.