THUNAIThe emotional aftermath of trauma can be seen in symptoms that persist after the trauma has occurred. For example, survivors may find it hard to regulate their emotions- they can be easily overwhelmed by events and find it hard to soothe themselves because they are in a constant state of high-alert.
Childhood trauma makes managing everyday stress difficult. Trauma affects both the body and mind, which creates all the more reason to be patient with yourself in your recovery, and celebrate every small step along your journey.
If we aren’t comforted and told it’s okay as children, we can look for other ways to calm ourselves down. Some of these can harm us e.g. hurting ourselves, using alcohol or drugs, acting out, being impulsive.
The good news is that survivors can learn to tolerate their distress as adults through various strategies. Here are some self-soothing techniques you could consider:
wrapping yourself up in a soft blanket
cuddling a soft toy or pillow
hugging and getting a hug from someone you love
warm bath
foot massage
crying
cup of hot chocolate
hugging a heat pack,
playing with the dog or cuddling the cat
In addition, visit “grounding skills” to learn more about exercises you can incorporate into your daily routine to practice mindfulness, anchor yourself to the present, and manage your emotions.