Unit 1: Understanding Trauma
IN THIS LESSON
Trauma survivors may often give less significance to their experience than they should.
Being honest with ourselves and where we stand in our post-trauma journey is critical to moving forward.
Too often, trauma survivors downplay their experience. It can be for different reasons.
I think many undervalue their own experience because trauma carries feelings of guilt and misguided reasoning that the survivor doesn’t deserve compassion or empathy.
This dishonesty prevents them from moving forward, and the cycle of feeling frozen, numb, and with little hope continues to loop. Write it down: We can’t reclaim our lives after trauma if we can’t be honest with ourselves about how our trauma affects us after the fact.
If you’re a trauma survivor, please take time to do an honest self-inventory of how you think you are handling your life after trauma. Ask yourself questions like:
How well am I handling triggers? Does how I handle (or not handle) triggers negatively affect the quality of my relationships with my loved ones?
Do I notice any unhealthy coping methods in my life? (drugs, alcohol, violence, gaslighting, gambling, etc.)
Am I living a life in balance? What areas of life do I need to adjust to feel healthier and improve my mindset? (physical, emotional, spiritual, social, etc.)
Time to Reflect
Question 1: On a scale of 1 to 10, how honest are you being with yourself about how your post-trauma experience affects you?
Question 2: Why did you give yourself that number?