It is not always easy to know if you have processed trauma. There are a few key signs that may indicate that you have not yet processed the trauma. These can include:
1. Avoidance: You may find yourself avoiding anything that reminds you of the trauma or makes you feel uncomfortable. This can include people, places, activities, and even thoughts or emotions.
2. Numbing: You may numb yourself from the pain of the trauma by drinking, using drugs, overworking, or engaging in other risky behaviors. This can become a way to avoid facing the trauma head-on.
3. Flashbacks and intrusive thoughts: You may relive the trauma through flashbacks or intrusive thoughts that come into your mind without warning. These can be very distressing and make it hard to function in day-to-day life.
4. Emotional dysregulation: You may find it difficult to regulate your emotions after experiencing a traumatic event. This can lead to feeling “stuck” in a certain emotion such as anger, sadness, or fearfulness.”
Your Body Releases Tension & Trauma
When you experience a traumatic event, your body goes into survival mode. This is known as the fight-or-flight response. Your heart rate and blood pressure increase, and you start to sweat. Your body also releases hormones, like adrenaline and cortisol. These changes help you to either fight or flee from the danger.
After the danger has passed, your body should return to its normal state. But sometimes, the stress of a traumatic event can be too much for your body to handle. When this happens, you may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
PTSD can cause a variety of symptoms, both physical and emotional. You may have trouble sleeping or eating. You may feel irritable or on edge all the time. You may have flashbacks of the event or have nightmares about it. You might avoid anything that reminds you of what happened or feel numb and disconnected from other people.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms after a traumatic event, it’s important to seek professional help immediately. Trauma can be extremely difficult to deal with on your own, but there are treatments available that can help you heal and move on with your life.
You Reach Out More For Support & Ask For Help (Rather Than Isolating)
If you’ve experienced trauma, one of the first things you might notice is that you reach out more for support. This could look like asking a friend to come over after a bad day, or seeking professional help to process what you’re going through.
Isolating yourself can feel tempting after experiencing trauma, but it’s often not helpful in the long run. By reaching out and asking for support, you’re taking an important step in your healing journey.