Trauma - How To Cope With Trauma

 

Do you know that 70 percent of adults experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime?

-- The Recovery Village

Growing up, i have gone throughout some things in this life in the words Agwu from the movie beast of no nation "if I should start telling you, it will make me sad, and it will also make you sad too". 

Everyone going about their day, easily will definitely come by two things; Good And Bad Experience. And these experience affect us differently, especially the bad ones. The good experience always enriches our lives, but the bad ones usually suck. 

And these bad experience always leave us with shocks, shock that some people start dealing with these, and after effects of our bad experience I will like to call them trauma.

according to American Psychological Association (APA), Trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape or natural disaster. Immediately after the event, shock and denial are typical. Longer term reactions include unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships and even physical symptoms like headaches or nausea.

Psychological issues are some if the most dangerous cases in the world. I dare say more dangerous than some terminal illness. Why? Because it really does not have a medical cure per say, the welfare of the patient or victim, is usually dependent on them.

Not everyone going through something traumatic wears it on their face, most of them hide it, why? Because of the fear of being misunderstood or the fear if being labelled.

you might see them, but unable to discern what they are going through. They are probably the ones wearing the bright smile in public, or the ones who gives the best vibes in their groups.

A person who is being traumatized needs help.from people around them

Traumas are very dangerous. And if not taken seriously, it could do a lot of damage to the person.

It is sad that in this nation Nigeria, we barely talk about matters of this sought. 

The only time we talk about it is When the matter is probably made public, then you start seeing different #tags on social media #saynotorape #wecare #justiceforchidnma. Then after a while, these victims are left alone to deal with the after effect if the incident, They are left alone to carry their loads, only few people checks up on them or reach out to them. Because most of us only sympathize with them, we don't empathize with them, and as such most start finding other means of coping such as abusing substances.

Enough of the digressing.

Some keeps fighting, holding on to that flicker of light in the darkness, while others have just given up and fallen off the edge free falling down, as they've accepted their fate.

How To Cope With Trauma

Dealing with traumas is quite challenging, like I mentioned earlier,  the cure of the patient lies with the patient. Anyway here are some things you can do to help you with it.

1. Feel It - Denial is often a common thing associated with people who experience traumatic stress. Although this is normal, but denial only prolong the healing process. You should gradually learn how to feeling face it,  accept it and work through it. Trying to avoid it might seem okay, but it is just postponing the healing

2. Express it: Express it this doesn't necessarily means you should start wearing a band in your fore tagged "traumatized" nope, what I am saying is find someone to open up to, talk it out, say how you feel. It might be a relative of yours, a close friend or even a professional. Not everyone will need a professional, but if you realize you do, try and seek one out.

3. Release it: This is the final step and presumably the hardest part. releasing it, letting it go. Letting go of the pain and just moving on. All it takes is a little courage and you'll see yourself moving on.

I leave you with the words of Aldous Huxley "your experience is not what happens to you, it is how you interpret what happens to you.

In-forming lives, transforming minds