Navigating Trauma Recovery

How do I let go of past trauma?

You might have to go to a place where it hurts and build a new story based on it. Building a story sounds like you′re creating fiction. It kind of is, but no, not exactly.

Let me explain.

It′s about creating a story based on actual events. A story you can live with and share with other people. It might not be the exact story of how the events unfolded - for that story doesn′t exist. It′s impossible to have access to all your memories.

But it′s a story that makes sense to you.

Building blocks

When you build a story, you need material or data. Where does this come from? My spontaneous answer is that it comes from a place of hurt – where trauma was present.

Sounds easy, right?

No.

OK. Why?

Because we are all different when healing from our past traumas. Some of us need to understand it intellectually first. By that, I mean to put words to your experiences and create a new language to explain it to yourself – and others.

It usually comes from being curious and maybe going to therapy. Or, as it was for me where I read books and studied.

For others, we must work with our hyper-vigilant bodies first. We need to get to a calm state where we start asking questions. Clarity of mind only comes when we′re not experiencing fear or threat.

For me, it started at an intellectual level - understanding came first.

Then there′s a third group - the ones who never visit their places of hurt. The ones who are unaware of their past sufferings. Who avoid going near the pain once caused by others.

I don′t blame them. Some people have terrible experiences that are better left unknown...

I′m just saying it′s a choice.

And who am I to tell people that they must work on themselves?

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Mind-body repair

For me, healing started at an intellectual level - understanding came first. From an early age, I tried to understand people and behaviors to understand myself and my experiences. I could sense something was wrong in my environment but didn′t know how. I read lots of books. I took courses. I journaled. I healed through music.

A couple of years ago, I started educating myself about trauma. I began to understand that my past experiences were actually - emotional trauma. This knowledge was the puzzle piece I was missing.

Things started to make sense now. A smart move was that I took help from a trauma-informed coach who helped me connect the dots. It was the spark that I needed to build my story.

But I was blind to my body's reactions and how it reacted to loud sounds or voices. Or, when I walked into a room, the first thing I looked for was the emergency exit. How situations that should have felt natural felt foreign to me. Intellectually, I was far ahead but my body was left behind.

So, here is where I am now, integrating my mind and body into a harmonious state.

Where are you at?

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If you are in the process of discovering your past trauma – have support. There are different resources such as therapy, support groups, trauma-informed coaching, movement-based therapies, and medication. Please do not hesitate to ask for help if you need it.

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Paulina Martinez

Transforming Past Pain into Personal Power | Mental & Emotional Fitness Advocate | Trauma-informed Educator | Swedish | Spanish ??