Traumatic events are supposed to be unchangeable, everlasting. No one is really sure what the definition of traumatic is, but most experts agree that it’s a term used to describe an event or occurrence that is overwhelming and leaves a lasting effect on its victims. Often, trauma can happen for no particular reason, and it can follow you for years. This article will focus on managing the trauma responses in order to better cope with your internal and external struggles.
Ways to Manage Trauma Responses
It is difficult to investigate, explore and research how to cope with trauma because each person’s situation is different. Everyone experiences their own unique reactions to the traumatic event and their own treatment needs. Below are ways to contain and manage your trauma responses.
Gain Knowledge of Trauma
The first step in overcoming your trauma responses is to gain knowledge of trauma. You need to understand how it affects your body physically and psychologically. This way you can understand your symptoms and know how to manage them properly. Being informed about the different stages of trauma allows you to respond appropriately and more quickly.
Stay Hydrated
Going through a traumatic experience can affect one’s body drastically by making one feel tired, exhausted, and worn out for days after the event occurred. This is a result of the body’s stress response. When your body experiences trauma it releases adrenaline, which increases your heart rate and makes you feel very alert. Your body also secretes stress hormones that increase blood pressure and your respiration rate. In addition, an increase in cortisol levels occurs because it causes you to release glucose into the bloodstream for energy.
All of these changes are necessary for survival, but they can take a toll on the body. Because stress hormone levels soar, it is important to stay hydrated. It is essential to drink water to avoid dehydration. Dehydration can make you feel weak, faint, and fatigued. Drinking at least six-eight glasses of fluid each day will help keep your body hydrated and have the body respond appropriately to what’s happening around you.
Avoid Stress
Stress is part of everyday life; however, it can be a factor in causing one to act out in ways that lead to compulsive behaviors. The best thing to do is to try and avoid stress completely. Sometimes stressful situations are unavoidable, but you should make sure that you’re able to cope with the situation before the panic sets in. Your body needs time after an event occurs to heal, so avoid doing anything too strenuous until your stress response subsides.
Create Structure
We live in a world where most people do not have structure. Because of this, most people have a hard time coping with the little control they have in their lives. It is important to create a structure for yourself and follow it every day. This doesn’t mean sitting at home watching television all day every day, but it does mean making sure you get up and get out of the house regularly and being able to go through the motions of your day by scheduling your time properly.
Try to Enjoy Yourself
It is hard to think about enjoying yourself when you are going through a rough time, but it is important to try and find something to enjoy in your life. This can be anything from watching a movie or reading a book, cooking a meal, or going for a walk. The idea here is that you need to get rid of negative self-talk and focus on positive self-talk. It may seem easy at first, but it does take some practice.
Seek Help
Sometimes, dealing with trauma is just too much to handle alone. Help is available to you, but you need to make sure that you are asking for help in the right way. It is important to know that it is okay to let others help support you. Often times people think that asking for help means accepting the help, but this isn’t always true.
Find a Support Group
Support groups are a great way to find people who can relate to your situation. This is especially important if you have suffered a loss as support groups can be very helpful in helping you grieve the loss of someone close. These types of groups are also great for finding people who understand your situation, which allows you to talk about it with people who really understand what you’re going through. In conclusion, it is important to remember that trauma responses are normal and unavoidable.
You may experience them all at one time, or you may experience them over a long period of time. You need to remain strong and know that this will pass eventually. Remember, knowledge is power, which will help you know when it’s time to seek help. To get help on how to cope with trauma and overcome trauma responses, call us on 844-639-8371.