Emotional Trauma Is Real: What This Is And How To Cope With It

While many people will experience a form of trauma at some point in their lives, the impact it has on a person’s perspective on life and sense of security often leave them feeling isolated. It can be strange to see friends, family, and coworkers carrying on with life as normal—the buzz and scroll of social media uninterrupted by your experience. Traumatic experiences often leave people feeling either lost and numb or in a heightened state of anxious sensitivity.

Put very simply, emotional trauma occurs as the result of an extraordinarily disturbing or stressful event or series of events. It is accompanied by feelings of helplessness, insecurity, disconnection, and anxiety. What feels traumatic to one person may not to another.

Sources of Trauma

Emotional Trauma can come from a wide variety of sources. Whether yours stems from prolonged exposure to a stressful situation or a single life-altering event, the result is the same. Here are some examples of experiences that may cause emotional trauma:

  • Childhood Neglect

  • Domestic Violence \ Abuse

  • Bullying at School

  • Unwanted Sexual Encounter

While the source of trauma is often extreme, ultimately, it all depends on how distressing the event is in terms of your perspective. Infidelity or betrayal in a romantic relationship, the sudden death of a family member or loved one, or even humiliation at work could give rise to trauma.

woman drinking coffee working on laptop

Coping With Emotional Trauma

In the same way everyone experiences trauma differently, everyone heals from it differently as well. There are, however, some common methods for coping with emotional trauma with a track record of success. If you’re struggling with the aftermath of a traumatic experience, some of these methods might be a good place to get started:

Exercise

The human body is an exquisitely complex system, and a traumatic experience can disturb its delicate balance. Because the mind and body are inextricably linked, one way you can start to heal your mind is by focusing on improving your health. This doesn’t mean you have to go crazy exercising or start living at the gym—it means spending time enjoying the sensation of being in your body.

Any activity which allows you to focus on the present is helpful. Start off small by going for short walks throughout the neighborhood, or explore new ways to enjoy yourself: yoga, martial arts, or bike riding.

Exploration

An alternative to isolation is reinvention. If you have trouble ‘getting back to normal after a traumatic event, turn that impulse into a desire to try new things. Reconnect with your inner child by picking up a creative hobby, social club, or similar activity.

Acceptance

Some people attempt to avoid thinking about or sitting with their traumatic experience, but a key part of healing after a traumatic event is sitting with those feelings it produces in you, understanding them, and accepting them. It’s not uncommon to struggle with irritability, sadness, and anxiety after a traumatic experience.

Recognize all of these emotions are valid. They exist to help you process what happened, and as self-protection mechanisms to prevent it from happening again in the future.

Sit with them and listen to them. Once they feel heard, they may quiet down.

Connection

Ultimately, one of the best ways for you to cope with trauma is to seek connection. Whether by reconnecting with family and family or seeking out new relationships with people who may be able to understand what you’ve been through, it’s important for you to rebuild your sense of connection. Find people you feel a sense of safety and comfort with.

Getting Help

While living with Emotional Trauma can feel overwhelming, it is very treatable. If you’re struggling to let go of a traumatic or painful experience, a qualified therapist can help you learn methods and techniques to cope with your trauma. Please don’t hesitate to reach out for more information if you’re looking for someone to work with in trauma therapy.


Sea Glass Counseling and Consultation is an EMDR therapy practice in Dublin, Ohio. Our compassionate, skilled therapists use evidence-based techniques grounded in the neurobiology of stress, trauma, and relationships to make sure your treatment is personalized and effective. Sea Glass therapists provide telehealth counseling in Ohio for individuals and couples. We’re best known for providing Intensive EMDR therapy, anxiety treatment, and sex therapy for Christians. Interested in working together? Contact us today to get started with a Certified EMDR therapist in Ohio.

Trauma TherapyErin Pritchard