The Most Effective Coping Mechanisms For Trauma

T rauma is one of the common and also most debilitating causes of stunted emotional growth, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. While dealing with trauma can oftentimes feel impossible, there are certain things you can do to make it a bit easier on yourself. 

The most effective coping mechanisms for trauma are often self-care tools we overlook, however, that doesn’t reduce their effectiveness. While obviously, this doesn’t replace professional help, it is a start. 

1. Meditation and Breathing Exercises 

Meditation is something most people avoid because it allows all the suppressed emotions to come rushing back. However, dealing with said emotions, sitting them out, and processing your trauma is the first, albeit hardest, step to truly overcome what you’ve gone through. Even if it’s only half an hour at a time, take out time to sit, breathe, and meditate. 

Moreover, to deal with unwanted symptoms and reactions, it is essential to know how to deal with them through breathing exercises. Youtube is a goldmine for breathing techniques you can follow and apply in your own life. 

2. Get a Support Group 

Make a list of the most trusted friends and family and let them know you’ll be needing them through this difficult time. Tell them that you’ll be needing to lean on them and to listen to you and support you. Having an array of people surrounding you who love, support, and care for you makes you feel less alone and as if you’re facing this with the help of all those people. It reduces the burden and allows you to relax. 

Call them over, spend time with them, and let them listen to you and support you. 

3. Engage Yourself In Past Hobbies 

Rediscover things you used to love and use them as tools for self-expression. This keeps you busy while also having a healthy outlet for all the emotions that build up. Whether it be writing, painting, sports, or whatever, make sure to go back to your roots and build back up. Remember to take it slow and remember why you loved doing it in the first place rather than taking it as a chore. 

The point is to engage your heart and mind in things you adore, whatever that may be for you. 

4. Find New Hobbies 

This is also a time to find new things you love doing. Experiment with different activities and see if any of them stick. It’s better to have someone do it with you at the start to make it seem less daunting. Make a list of hobbies you think you might enjoy and give them some time when and where you can. 

Don’t stick to the first one on your list for the sake of finding a new hobby. Instead, take time to learn, experiment, and have a healthy bond with your chosen activity. It should be something that makes you feel at ease and excited to pursue, rather than seeming like a burden you don’t want to carry. 

Hobbies are a healthy way to channel the heavy emotions and energy that you’re carrying within you. 

5. Allow Yourself Time To Grieve

While everyone deals with trauma differently, it is important to give yourself time to reflect and grieve regardless. Take time off work when you feel as if you can’t do it and go easy on yourself. Remember, you’ve gone through an awful lot and your body needs time to recover. Allow your body to take that time and give yourself space to cry, yell, or just lie in bed when you have no energy to do anything else. Give yourself the time to process it and remember that you will get through this. 

You are stronger than you think you are, all you need is just a little bit of time. 

At the end of the day, everyone copes differently and you’ll need to experiment a lot to figure out what healthily works for you. Just remember to keep yourself accountable, give yourself time, and figure out things at your own pace. 

Let people take care of you and stick to healthy coping mechanisms for trauma instead of quick relief unhealthy ones. You’ve got this, you can do this, and you are much, much stronger than you think yourself to be.