Managing Trauma: Five Tips to Getting Started

According to the Mayo Clinic, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event. Most people who go through traumatic events may have temporary difficulty adjusting and coping, but with adequate time and good self-care, they usually get better. If the symptoms get worse, last for months or even years, and interfere with your day-to-day functioning, you may have PTSD. Getting effective treatment after PTSD symptoms develop can be critical to reduce symptoms and improve function.

PTSD can have lasting consequences from traumatic ordeals that can cause intense feelings of fear or helplessness. Traumatic experiences such as sexual or physical assault, war, natural disaster, and other countless traumatizing events have often created paralyzing effects for those who once deemed themselves as extroverted and sociable. Experiencing trauma can often cause a person to become more introverted (perhaps agoraphobic) and they may no longer find pleasure in socializing with others due to strong feelings of distrust of others. PTSD is also not always just limited to the victim. Families of victims, emergency personnel and rescue workers can also develop PTSD from shared traumatic experiences, such as those who experienced the horrific events at the World Trade Center in New York, on September 11, 2001. Some could even argue that viewers nationwide experienced some measure of PTSD when they witnessed a plane hit the North Tower on live television.

Since then, it seems as though the United States has continued to experience different traumatic events including an unforeseen (mishandled) pandemic, frequent freak storms, mass shootings, economic instability, political and social discourse. However, it is important to remember that there is support. Others may share the same emotions that you do. Having a good support system of people who will love you unconditionally is what often brings us the strength we need to keep fighting. Being here is a good place to start. Be proud of this moment!

The following five tips are simple suggestions to help you commence your journey to treatment and gradual healing. Seek immediate or professional help if at any time you are just too overwhelmed, overstressed, or feeling completely hopeless! Remember that it is always beneficial that you maintain good mental health not only for yourself but for your loved ones also. Here is to you becoming a stronger individual!

1. Be Willing: As humans we tend to feel a sense of pride especially when we consider ourselves independent and self-sufficient. Because some people accomplish most of their life goals independently it can often become the norm to not want or need to seek help from others, including from mental health providers, after experiencing certain kinds of trauma. Though this may seem like a continued display of strength by the independent individual, it can often be facade for what is really going on behind the scenes. This "independent" individual may actually be dependent upon other things to help them cope, such as consuming excessive amounts of alcohol, using illicit drugs, or even partaking in risky sexual behavior. After experiencing trauma, some people may feel very remorseful, or perhaps responsible for their trauma therefore they begin to develop a sense of worthlessness. The aforementioned addictions certainly contribute to creating more feelings of guilt and worthlessness. Once an individual has reached a threshold of addiction, it becomes a challenge to help them stop. Family and friends of a PTSD diagnosed patient only simply need to be there and provide unconditional love for the person who needs and is willing to seek help. Remember the old adage, "Where there is a will, there is a way."

2. Seek Professional Help: When seeking help, consider contacting a counselor or a doctor with whom you would feel most comfortable and one that you can trust to help you most efficiently. Not all counselors and doctors are the same! Though many can respect the time and effort that all doctor's put into attaining their degrees, it does not always change the personal views of most professionals, who can claim that treating certain patients goes against their personal beliefs, despite having taken a Hippocratic Oath. Despite this fact, this should never discourage anyone from seeking help. The following link provides a source for those wishing to seek out an LGBTQ+ psychologist or counselor. If you feel that you are in need of help, right now, please, reach out to the LGBTQ+ Lifeline by following this link. Or click on the golden "Immediate" link above. You got this!

3. Seek a Therapy Group: If you are at a point where seeking a doctor is not immediate, but would still like some form of support, perhaps you can seek a therapy group or organization that helps individuals deal with certain types of traumas. It is highly likely that someone else has experienced a similar traumatic that you have, therefore you can take some comfort in knowing that you are not alone. Meeting others in a therapy group could help you develop a new insight or perspective on how to manage your own trauma. This form of therapy can often help you find a place where you can hopefully feel a sense of safety and comfort in knowing that there will be others ready to help you. To find a support group near you, please, check out this link. If you are a family member or friend who would like to find out more information about the LGBTQ+ community, please, check out the Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays website. Support is always available to you. Simply take comfort in knowing that support is always there!

4. Find New Purpose: After having created the support system that you need, it is time to find a new purpose. As previously mentioned, many people who experience trauma begin to feel a sense of worthlessness. How can one fight a such negative emotions? Opportunities such as volunteering, joining extracurricular activity groups or keeping a journal can help in many ways. Being active in an organization that stands for the causes of the betterment of society can help you to feel empowered. Many will agree that an idle mind is a dangerous mind. When we refrain from keeping ourselves productive, we have a tendency to allow certain thoughts and emotions take control of our minds, such as feelings of worthlessness. The best way to counteract that negativity is by keeping ourselves busy to the extent that it is tolerable and manageable. Helping others will also remind you that despite all of the bad feelings, there is still goodness within your heart, and that is more valuable in today's society than anything else. Afterall, time is the most precious gift one can give.

5. Take Your Time: On the topic of time, managing it will be key to succeeding at strengthening your mental health. It cannot be said enough about how important it is for a person to take their time in dealing with symptoms of PTSD. Many people will often tell you to get over it or move past everything you have experienced. This is where you come to understand that not everyone within your social circle can be part of the support system you need to become a better person. When it comes to being told to rush through all of your emotions, you should ask yourself if you are truly ready to move on. If you realize that you are not, do not feel guilty for still wanting to take time to process what has happened to you. Never let anyone set a deadline for you to deal with grief. Only you will understand what your traumatic experience means to you. Will it change you for the better, or for the worse? Does it become a crutch to hinder you from enjoying the remainder of your life, or does it become the fuel you need to fight another day? It is in this moment that you must empower yourself and let those around you know that you may not be ready to move on, just yet. We all know that healing takes time, but because time in our individual lives is not infinite, many people may not be able to heal completely. Knowing this we must use our traumatic experience to help ourselves and others so that we may become a stronger society. You must take control over your trauma by acknowledging that those who harmed you, or whatever you experienced, can no longer control you. By seeking help, be it a mental health professional, or a therapy group, you are initiating one of the greatest journeys of your life! Most importantly, by continuing to educate yourself about PTSD you can come to understand better ways to cope with the stress, anxiety and depression that derive from trauma. Always find the right people who will understand and support you on your journey to seeking a stronger and better mental well-being. You are worth it!

Keep in mind that these steps are only a guide to help you understand how, when and where it is okay to seek help. Initially, you must identify what is causing you to feel intense emotions of stress, anxiety, depression and hopelessness. After doing so, you must find a willingness to be proactive in seeking help by finding out what options for therapy would work best for you. Also, remember that it is okay to seek the help of a psychiatrist, a psychologist or a counselor. They are always willing to work with you to find the best treatment that suits your needs. To supplement that, seeking a therapy group should be considered. Most will promote positive social experiences and you may be able to connect with other individuals who have shared the same traumatic experiences that you have. Lastly, remember to take your time with the healing process as you begin to put together a plan on how to cope with your past trauma. Hopefully, through this entire process of healing, you will be able to also find a new sense of purpose! Be proud that you have made it this far!