Unfortunately, trauma is more common than most people realize. As a result, people who have experienced traumatic events in their lives need to find a treatment solution that works for them. Thankfully, there are several avenues to take. Some work well in certain situations. Others seem to work for almost everyone—at least, for a while.
But, we’re living in a fast-paced, modern world.
There are bound to be some trauma recovery challenges along the way, and it’s important to take those into consideration. The more you understand the challenges you might face in your recovery, the more prepared you’ll be to overcome them.
With that in mind, let’s look at three trauma recovery challenges in the modern world, and what you can do about them.
1. Breathing Exercises Stop Working
Breathing exercises and mindfulness are great ways to overcome some of the side effects of trauma. If you’re feeling especially overwhelmed or scared, deep breathing can calm you down.
But what happens if those exercises stop working?
A lot of it may have to do with your existing stress levels. Again, we live in a fast-paced world, and it’s not uncommon to experience stress in other areas of life. You might try a breathing exercise only to find you’re feeling more anxious. This is likely because you’re trying too hard.
You’re not able to calm down and focus the way you need to for the exercise to be effective. So, you end up “over-breathing,” which might make you more anxious. The more you over-breathe, the more likely it is that you’ll start over-thinking.
2. Tapping Techniques Start to Fade
Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) have become extremely popular in treating PTSD, anxiety, and helping people to get over certain addictions. Tapping is one of the most popular of these techniques, and for plenty of good reasons. It focuses on different meridian points of your body to balance your energy and reduce anxiety.
Many people swear by tapping, and maybe it even worked for you for a while. But, if you’ve noticed that it doesn’t seem to work as well, it could be because you’re trying to get a “quick fix” and not taking your time with it. Or, you might be too general, instead of tapping with very specific details related to your struggle.
You might also be burnt out on this technique, wondering if you’ll have to rely on it forever. If that’s the case, it may be time to shift to something else or re-focus your EFT efforts.
3. Trouble Opening Up
If you’ve been through a traumatic event, it can be difficult opening up to anyone about it, even though it’s often the best way to start healing. Even talking to a therapist or counselor might feel overwhelming.
Of course, keeping things in can cause your recovery to move slowly. So, how can you strike a balance between getting the treatment you deserve and not letting your fears and flashbacks take over?
One option is to write things down. It’s often easier to jot down your narrative than it is to speak it out loud. Try keeping a journal, or something to bring to your therapist each week that you can expand on. Writing is a great way to take some weight off your shoulders and give you something to look back on as you track your progress.
There will always be hurdles to overcome in any type of treatment. Understanding what they are will help you make the adjustments you need. Keep these potential trauma recovery challenges in mind as you move forward. Knowing what they are might be more beneficial to the success of your treatment than you realize.