Whether rich or poor, male or female, young or old, traumatic experiences happen to everyone indiscriminately. While the nature of the incident might be different – ranging from death and property loss, to violence and even natural calamities – when disaster strikes, it always greatly affects every single individual involved. The aftermath of such unfortunate events is always a huge blow to many and can spark a cascade of stress and depression. However, be encouraged that it is possible for you to go through trying times and get back on your feet despite the severity of the incident. Here are some of the most important steps you should take in order to successfully navigate yourself to recovery.
- Say no to self-pity
Despite the level of frustration and despair your trauma has caused, you must resist the temptation to drown in self-pity by blaming yourself. While you might be inclined to ask ‘What’s wrong with me?’ or ‘Why did this happen to me?’, remember that there are very many factors that could’ve contributed to a particular incident. Hence, what happened to you could’ve happened to anyone. There is nothing wrong with you!
- Confide in someone
When at your lowest moments, you will surely need someone to hold your hand and walk you through it all. Find someone who you trust, whether it be a family member or a professional counselor, and vent out how you feel, sharing your thoughts and fears with them. They will be a source of encouragement when you feel low since they can embrace you and see to it that you continue in the process to recovery.
- Out of sight; out of mind
Many post-traumatic individuals deteriorate when they see visual reminders of what has happened in the past. You need to bring yourself to the point of letting go of what happened while looking forward to what the future has in store. You should purpose to eliminate any thing which acts as a physical reminder of the tragic events. For instance, if you are recovering from a homicide, you definitely need to find a crime scene cleanup firm to clear away any blood and other physical reminders of the incident. This will help you to regain peace of mind.
- Take action
Having gone through extremely difficult times, finding purpose in the midst of all the darkness will definitely help a great deal in hastening the healing process. You can use your experience to create awareness and therefore prevent others from going through the same harrowing ordeal. In addition, you can join a support group and seek to comfort others who find themselves in the same position that you were in.
- Have patience
As they say, time heals all wounds. You need to be patient with yourself knowing that each day you are moving closer to recovery. So don’t be too hard on yourself, but rather hold on to the hope of betterment that each dawn brings.
