Identify that you experienced childhood trauma
Identifying with trauma might be difficult because some are unaware or unwilling to recognize their experiences as traumatic. One of the comebacks I sometimes get when I talk about childhood trauma is people saying, “I wasn’t sexually abused.” As you might discover, sexual abuse is not the only trauma. These are the areas also considered traumatic injury; physical abuse, sexual abuse, parental separation or divorce, neglect, parental mental health, parental substance use, emotional abuse.
You might experience some anxiety as you decide to name what you are feeling and identify as one having experienced trauma, however, that is the first step to healing. You cannot heal what you don’t acknowledge.
People who actively search for information that can help
People who actively research information that can help; have a good understanding of some of their issues. They are aware of triggers and are active in groups and communities that speak to their particular problems. However, despite having all the resources and information at their fingertip, they fail to implement.
People who read and implement what they discover
Implementation separates the wheat from the chaff; the people who are serious about healing and recovery and those who want a cure but have no motivation or willingness to participate in the process. These kinds of people not only read reams and reams online, attend dozens of workshops but they actively seek to implement the things that they are learning. These kinds of people will notice changes and celebrate them. These changes might be minor but will still be useful in giving encouragement and spurring you on to gain greater insight into your experiences and what it takes to heal.
People who actively engage with resources
At this stage individuals actively engage with resources in a focused and intentional way. They have had a taste of what it takes to heal, and you are fully committed to the process. They attend workshops, retreats, seek therapeutic support from a counsellor and do ongoing work to enable healing and maintenance. These individuals know healing might be a long journey but commit to the process.
They will actively cut naysayers, harmful or toxic people out of their lives because they know that healing will not be possible with them around.
Where do you see yourself? What will it take to get you to the next stage of your healing and growth?
Here are three things that you can do to change the above:
1. Identify the specific trauma that you experienced.
2. List three ways in which this is negatively affecting your life.
3. List three ways in which someone can help you begin to deal with the triggers listed in number two.
(embed a quiz, then ask for an email to send info that is relevant to them)