Trauma can take different forms. For those who have experienced abuse in the past, being able to take the steps towards healing can be a lifelong process.
However, there are ways to move forward. If you feel ready to recover and begin again, you might find that there are different options that could work for you. Here are some ideas to help you forge ahead into the next phase of your life.
The path to empowerment
Only you know yourself and your limits. But if you’re making a move towards empowerment and healing, you might want to begin by working out what you need.
It may be that you focus on self-care. International Self-Care Day might have taken place in July, but this is an ongoing process that’s designed to put yourself and your needs front and centre.
It’s not fulfilling basic needs, however. While having a shower and getting sleep are all good for your overall wellbeing, self-care is doing things that focus on your wellbeing. It may be that you read a book or go for a run. Take the time to think about what could be fulfilling for you and do the activities that you love.
Self-care can also be used to help with trauma. Mental health charity, Mind covers how self-care can be used to help with PTSD and flashbacks.
Taking the time to focus on yourself in this way can seem intense at first. After all, you might never have prioritised your needs like this before. But it can go a long way towards helping you heal and restore your sense of self worth.
A healing journey
Your journey is personal to you. It won’t look like that of other survivors. Therefore, you can tailor the path you take to soothe your worries in a way that suits you.
You may decide to introduce daily self-care strategies that are designed to negate the triggers you experience.
It could be that you take the leap and seek professional guidance. Therapy isn’t necessarily suitable for everyone and there are different types of therapy available, so you might find that there’s some trial and error involved before you find the right fit. But in many cases, speaking to a professional about your experiences can go a long way towards unravelling the pain of your past.
Making it your own
You are at the centre of this path you’re on. You’re the priority. How that looks depends on who you are and how you’re managing your past trauma.
There are those survivors who are settled into a self-care routine and that’s enough. Others might opt for regular therapy sessions. Some survivors might decide to take on an abuse claim, seeking justice for the pain they have endured.
Wherever you land, it’s your experience and your trauma. Only you know what the best fit for you could be. There is not rush. Take the time you need to move on.
