You might hear the word “trauma” and imagine a scene from a television emergency room with medical personnel running every which way and grim music playing in the background. But the real- life trauma that many of us have experienced is much different.

Trauma is defined as “a psychological and physiological response to a deeply distressing or overwhelming event that exceeds an individual’s coping abilities.”

Some examples of trauma include near-death experiences, serious car accidents, experiencing a natural disaster, witnessing a loved one passing or experiencing emotional or sexual abuse.

However, there are countless other forms of trauma as well. Not all stressful or upsetting experiences lead to trauma; trauma occurs when the event has a significant, lasting impact on the individual’s life.

Even after the event or situation has passed, it can have an ongoing impact on your mental and physical health and overall well-being. Many who have experienced traumatic events suffer from nightmares, flashbacks or difficulty regulating their emotions. Substance misuse, sleeping problems, low self-esteem or suicidal thoughts can also occur.

Understandably, anxiety and depression can accompany these symptoms as well. Furthermore, unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as overeating or alcohol abuse, can lead to additional health concerns, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease or stroke.

Research shows that unresolved or unprocessed trauma is stored in the body and can lead to physical manifestations such as chronic pain or autoimmune conditions. This in turn causes inflammation and immune system disregulation.

Unprocessed trauma also has the potential to change the outlook we have for our own life and can lead us to react to future situations in abnormal ways. Studies show that traumatic stress, particularly during childhood, increases the likelihood of being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease as an adult.

Working through trauma The aftereffects of a significant life event are not always noticed right after the traumatic experience

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Even after [a traumatic] event or situation has passed, it can have an ongoing impact on your mental and physical health and overall well-being.

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occurs. Sometimes, these things can take weeks, months or even years to show up in our lives. Many professionals recommend seeking therapy as soon as possible after you experience a significant life event to get a head start on working through any potential lingering trauma.

Practicing self-care is vital when it comes to working through trauma. Eating foods that nourish your body and make you feel great and moving your body in ways that you enjoy are two of the best things you can do for yourself always — but especially when working to heal your trauma.

Getting enough sleep and keeping your life stress to a minimum are also beneficial. Engaging in activities or hobbies that you enjoy can help to bring joy, peace and calmness into your life, and getting regular massages or practicing breathwork techniques can aid in the physical recovery after a traumatic event.

Yoga is particularly beneficial for those recovering from traumatic experiences. Yoga helps to remind our bodies of how to breathe in a mindful way as well as forming a deeper connection with the body and inner self.

One special form of yoga, called trauma-sensitive yoga, or TSY, helps to reduce the effects of post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression. TSY is a therapeutic type of yoga that is designed to help those healing from trauma to reconnect with their bodies in a safe and gentle way while prioritizing body awareness. This form of yoga helps individuals to focus on the present moment and feel empowered to make decisions about their body.

It is also crucial to avoid unhealthy coping mechanisms or behaviors that serve to “numb” your feelings, such as alcohol or drug use, because these things will hinder the trauma recovery process. Unhealthy coping mechanisms also include overeating, emotional eating or even starvation.

Self-harm behaviors, such as cutting or burning oneself to momentarily relieve distress, or isolation from close relationships to avoid feeling loneliness or despair are other examples of unhealthy coping mechanisms that some may engage in. Engaging in impulsive or risky behaviors, angry outbursts, negative self-talk or even working too much are other potentially harmful coping mechanisms.

If you notice any of these behaviors within yourself and you have been through a traumatic experience, please consider seeking help from a therapist to work through your trauma and take back control of your life.

While the process of working through trauma can be uncomfortable and vulnerable, the alternative is far more detrimental. Unresolved trauma can affect your health and your life in every way possible. But when you make the decision to work through it, you can heal yourself and start living your best life yet.

If you have any thoughts of selfharm or not wanting to be alive anymore, please contact emergency services immediately.