15 Tips to Recover FromTrauma

The things that helped me recover from PTSD

The most important thing to know about recovering from trauma is that it is often a long difficult healing journey with many ups and downs. Be very gentle with yourself and practice loving self-talk and forgiveness. Here are a few more tips that helped me along the way:

1. Self-compassion, self-love, and self-acceptance
2. Feel to heal-allow yourself to feel every emotion as it surfaces free from judgment. Just observe and try not to get stuck in any one emotion.
3. Make a list of everything you are grateful for
4. Vigorous exercise helps release feelings of anxiety
5. Avoid over generalizations and doom and gloom thought patterns. Bring yourself back to reality and remind yourself the worst-case scenario rarely ever happens.
6. Practice the pause and breathe. Deeply inhale through the nose to the count of 4. Hold your breath to a count of seven. Exhale through the nose for the count of 8. Repeat 3–4 times feeling free to adjust the times as needed. Notice how you feel.
7. Practice positive Affirmations: “I can handle this” “I am safe” “I will conquer this”
8. Question what is really happening. Are the thoughts you are having distorted because you are in fight or flight mode? Are you reliving a past event?
9. Opt outside- fresh air brings fresh life, or prana, into our bodies and souls. It redirects our energy and attention.
10. Call a friend or family member who is supportive.
11. Create an art project- creativity allows an emotional outlet where you may be better able to express yourself than you can verbally.
12. Journal- whatever you feel. No rules! If your angry, be angry. It can be artistic! Maybe it’s bullet style. Just let the words flow. Let it out.
13. If you have insomnia consider keeping a notebook next to your bed so you can jot down your thoughts when they wake you. That way they do not have to keep you up. You can let them go and allow yourself to go back to sleep knowing you will not forget. You can also try a warm Epson salt bath with lavender essential oil 45 minutes before bed with a cup of chamomile tea.
14. Hit the yoga mat. Yoga connects the body and mind through the breath. Each time I personally hit my mat I feel energetically grounded, a get a sense of clarity, and I feel much calmer. Yoga and meditation literally stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system which calm our fight or flight system-naturally slowly our heart rate and blood pressure, reducing anxiety, and allowing the stress to melt away.
15. Do not hesitate to seek professional therapy.

Believe better days are coming. 💖

No two journeys are exactly alike. Try to accept yourself where you are. reward yourself when you make progress in the recovery journey. One book that really helped me was Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma, by Peter A. Levine. I hope These tips help you and I wish you the very best.

Love & Light,

Libby

You can let life crush you or you can let life expand you. I chose to expand. I now hope to awaken, inspire, and empower others to live the life they love through awareness, acceptance, and forgiveness. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please comment and tell me a little about yourself.