Emotional Trauma: Manage It, Treat It, Rise Above It
A near-universal feature of advertising for personal injury law firms from San Diego, California to Bangor, Maine is the highlighting of potential compensation for “pain and suffering” or perhaps “emotional trauma.” But what exactly does this mean? How do we diagnose, understand, and treat these injuries which do not appear on the body, and cannot even be detected by scans of the internal organs, but instead dwell within the mind? To conclude our “Spring Into Relief” series, this week’s Malloy Law Blog Post will examine treatment of emotional trauma.
What is Emotional Trauma?
In previous editions of our “Spring into Relief” series, we’ve considered the spectre of stress, and how encountering and managing it is a universal feature of human life. But what about stressors that exceed the range of daily annoyances we all deal with? These extraordinary stressors destroy the mind’s sense of security in experiencing and navigating life, leading to trauma not dissimilar to a broken bone or torn ligament. This psychological or emotional trauma can lock the brain’s natural threat response systems into a state of hypertension, leaving you anxious, hi-strung, and emotional for weeks or even months after the initial trauma. The symptoms can also present as a kind of emotional burnout, leaving you listless, depressed, and numb.
The Bad Feeling Feedback Loop
One of the things which can make emotional trauma so intractable is its propensity to reinforce itself through negative thinking. Victims of serious trauma can feel “broken,” “abnormal,” or “lesser-than.” The inability to enjoy life as one is accustomed to doing can lead to shame, which keeps the traumatized person from taking healthy steps towards recovery.
Getting a Handle on Emotional Trauma
While professional intervention may prove necessary, there are simple steps anyone can take to alleviate trauma. Some of these are
Exercise
As the saying goes, a sound mind in a sound body. Aerobic exercise to activate the body’s natural endorphins can alleviate many of the symptoms of severe stress. Thirty minutes of exercise per day shows noticeable positive effects. In particular, full-body exercise with an
emphasis on movement can help get “get you out of your head,” and reestablish a connection with the physical world. Good forms of exercise for this purpose include:
· Walking
· Running
· Swimming
· Basketball
· Dancing
· Rock climbing
· Boxing
· Weight training
· Martial arts
Stay Connected
Isolating or withdrawing is one of the key behaviors which can make the “feedback loop” we talked about more severe. Seeing people, family, friends, and other loved ones, can expedite the healing process. It may be wise to meet new people, or seek out dedicated support groups for traumatized people. If hyperfocusing on the trauma feels too painful, then take a class, or cultivate a hobby to keep your mind off of it.
Assert Ownership Over Your Body
Practicing techniques for self-regulation of emotions, such as breathing techniques or healthy releases of emotion, helps reassert control over your own emotions and mind.
Furthermore, keep in mind that personal health extends beyond regular exercise. Sleeping eight hours a night, eating a balanced diet, avoiding stress, and avoiding excessive indulgence in alcohol or drugs will hep your body achieve a new equilibrium.
Seeking Professional Help
It is ideal to embark on this healing process with the assistance of an experienced trauma specialist because working through trauma can be frightening, unpleasant, and perhaps re-traumatizing. It could take some time to find the proper therapist. It is crucial that the therapist you select has trauma treatment experience. However, the quality of your relationship with therapy is just as crucial. Select a trauma specialist with whom you are at ease. Look for another therapist if you don’t feel respected, safe, or understood.
How Malloy Law Can Help
If you or a loved one are plagued by emotional trauma in the wake of an accident, caused by another’s negligence, Malloy Law can help. Our experienced personal injury attorney team is standing by to assess your case free of charge and handle it with the sensitivity you deserve in this difficult period. Contact Malloy Law today, and let’s win your case.