About 60% of men and 50% of women experience at least one trauma in their lives. As a result, about 6% of the US population struggles with PTSD. Trauma can include accidents, sexual or physical assault, combat, disaster, and witnessing death or injury.
If you recently experienced trauma, try using these tips to cope with PTSD. Coping with trauma can help you regain control over your life.
Make a change with these trauma-coping tips today.
Find Support
Before using the rest of these self-care tips on your own, consider building a support system. Your loved ones could help lighten the load to reduce your stress levels. They can also provide a supportive ear when you’re ready to talk.
If you’re not ready to speak with friends or family members, consider seeking help from a professional instead.
Seek help if you experience:
- Intrusive thoughts or feelings
- Recurrent nightmares
- An inability to move through life the way you want to
A professional can help you recognize the options that are available to you.
If you experience anxiety, stress, or other symptoms following a trauma, consider contacting one of these national helpline resources.
Ease Stress
After a traumatic experience, your body’s stress response could become and stay triggered. You’ll feel like you’re in a state of constant stress as a result.
Try reducing your stress levels with:
- Guided imagery
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Progressive muscle relaxation
Make sure you’re getting enough sleep each night as well.
Process Your Feelings
Try to process your feelings by talking to a friend, consulting a therapist, or writing in a journal.
Learning how to process your feelings when dealing with trauma can help you avoid wallowing in those emotions. Instead, you can move through them before letting them go.
Comfort Yourself
Make sure you’re taking care of your mind and body as you start using these self-caring tips.
For example, you should follow a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep to ensure your body functions at its best. You can also try:
- Going for short walks
- Writing in a gratitude journal
- Relaxing under a weighted blanket
- Meditating
- Reading a good book
- Gardening
- Watching a movie
- Dancing
These activities could foster positive feelings to boost your mental strength.
Focus on What You Can Control
After a trauma, you could feel powerless or helpless. Try to focus your attention on what you can control.
Focusing your energy on what’s within your control could help you feel empowered.
For example, you might consider contacting a lawyer following a traumatic event. They could help you get closure or fight for compensation for your pain and suffering or other losses. You can learn more here: how pain and suffering calculated.
Start Coping With Trauma With These Tips Today
Coping with trauma is an important part of the process of moving on. Otherwise, you might begin to wallow in your emotions. Start using these trauma-coping tips to regain control over your life.
Remember, you’re not alone. Seeking help could make all the difference.
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