The Final Stage of Healing Trauma: Helping Other's Heal
The most beautiful and empowering experience is to use everything I have overcome to help other people along their own trauma recovery. Instead of asking why I had to go through such hellish nightmares, I ponder what it has taught me. I consider the valuable life lessons. This has been a vital factor in my healing journey. To release a victim-mindset. To understand that pain, grief, and loss can be used for personal growth, expansion, and positive improvements. To shift perspectives. To gain nuggets of wisdom. "The final stage of healing is using what happens to you to help other people. That is healing in itself." ~ Gloria Steinem After reflecting on my major life lessons, I focus on the bigger picture. Absolutely nothing is ever wasted, including:
Child neglect and abuse
Dysfunctional birth family
Narcissistic abuse
Fibromyalgia
Cymbalta & Benzo Hell
Sexual assaults
Sibling abuse
Betrayal
Family scapegoating
Financial abuse
Grief & loss
Complex PTSD
Compounded trauma
There is a higher purpose. When we can expand our minds, our attitudes and perceptions can change. We may choose not to be bitter. We become better. We become more compassionate. My pain is transformed into an inspiring message of hope and healing. My backbreaking moments in life are now a helpful recovery guide for trauma survivors. It's like an amazing GPS to help them through the darkness and into the light.
To encourage survivors to reclaim their lives after abuse and trauma. To be empowered, educated, and equipped for the next chapter of your life.
Healing trauma is an inside job. Healing starts with you. To educate yourself about the types of abuse in which you've suffered. To understand the body and mind connection, cellular memory. To be willing to ask for help. To commit yourself to receive emotional support by a trauma-informed expert. To put in the time, energy, and effort by doing the grief work and trauma recovery work. (Your future healed self will thank you.)
To be open to invest in your health; physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. To learn realistic strategies to calm your nervous system. To reconnect to yourself, especially if you dissociate. To come home to your inner child. To step into your core essence who is valuable, unique, and worthy. To practice tools to promote adaptive coping mechanisms. To learn how to anticipate potential triggers that may lead to fight, flight, freeze, or fawn mode. To become aware of your trauma responses. To understand that trauma isn't what's wrong with you. Rather, trauma is what happened to you. Remember that this is common. Knowledge about your vagus nerve and post-traumatic stress can empower you to reclaim your body, mind, and soul. Knowledge about how the vagus nerve works provides a fundamental understanding of traumatic stress and facilitates your ability to heal.
“Mind-body therapies work with the vagus nerve to help you find balance. In this post, you will find a variety of breath and movement practices aimed to stimulate and reset the vagus nerve. Through a process of self-study and mindful body awareness, you can start to learn strategies that help you restore a sense of safety and heal from trauma.” ~ Dr. Arielle Schwartz Look outside the narrow box of Western medicine. Explore holistic modalities. There are countless pathways to trauma recovery beyond talk therapy and antidepressants. Once you learn about various natural alternatives, it can accelerate your recovery process in ways that you've never imagined. It's been a godsend for me! Have the courage to process, confront, and work through what you've suffered. Be true to yourself. Trust your gut instincts. Focus on what tools align to you.
Believe that healing is possible for you. Believe that you have the innate ability to recover from trauma. Believe in reducing your pain; physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Believe in yourself and brighter days ahead of you.
Today, I am honored and humbled to be using everything that I've experienced, especially as a Certified Trauma Recovery Coach, YouTuber, and author. NOTHING IS WASTED. My trauma was transformed into triumph!
My top purpose in life is to support survivors. To be their gentle guide along their breakthroughs of healing. To help them to not merely survive, but to THRIVE.
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” ― Maya Angelou