Trauma affects everyone at some point in life. Something painful and difficult will inevitably happen. That could be the death of a family member, sudden job loss, an injury, or a disease. For others, trauma is even more intense, like combat experience or suffering physical or sexual abuse. Oftentimes, our experiences with trauma stay with us and continue to affect us in profound ways.
Learning how to let go of past trauma is essential to a high quality of life. That can be done through formal therapy. Past trauma can also be processed at home by implementing some helpful habits. Learn more about mental health and addiction therapy near you by calling Serenity Grove at 844.904.3485.
What Is Past Trauma?
Past trauma is any form of trauma that occurred in the past. It could date back to childhood or else be more recent. However, for something to be considered past trauma, it cannot be continuing in the present. That does not mean that past trauma does not impact people. In fact, past trauma often has enormous consequences for a person’s mental, physical, and psychological health.
Making sense of trauma is difficult. Past trauma can manifest in the present in numerous ways. Here are a few examples of how past trauma can affect someone:
- Flashbacks
- Nightmares
- Anxiety or depression
- Irritability
- Isolation
- Intrusive thoughts related to past trauma
- Avoidance of past trauma or triggers related to the event
Not everyone reacts to their past trauma in the same way. It is entirely possible that two people could experience very similar traumas, and one of them could be entirely unaffected by it moving forward in symptomatic terms. Processing trauma for some people takes very little time, while others take a long time. Still, other people find themselves unable to process their trauma effectively. It is these people who can benefit most from learning how to let go of past trauma through personal work or formal therapy.
How To Let Go of Past Trauma
Figuring out how to let go of past trauma differs from person to person. A technique that may work for someone may be useful to the next person. Letting go of past trauma also tends to take time and consistent effort. Explore a few tips for how to let go of past trauma, such as:
- Creating a healthy distance
- Practicing mindfulness
- Engaging in self-care
Create Healthy Distance
This tip is not meant to indicate that people should bury their trauma or ignore it. Instead, creating healthy distance is about providing space for healing. A good example is when the trauma is attached to a specific person or place. If the source of past trauma was a relative’s abuse, it might make sense not to associate or interact with that person so as to avoid being regularly triggered.
Practice Mindfulness
Practicing mindfulness techniques can be a great way to stay in the present and begin to let go of the past. Mindfulness comes in many forms and can involve breathing exercises and precise movement.
Engage In Self-Care
Self-care is important and especially worth prioritizing when you find past trauma impacting your daily functioning. Set positive boundaries, say no to things, engage in what brings comfort and joy, and put yourself first when it comes to mental and physical health. Trauma often tricks people into thinking they are not worthy of being loved or not worthy of comfort and safety. Meaningfully combat that lie by leaning into your personal worth by practicing self-care.
While these are great ways to let go of trauma, sometimes trauma has such a severe impact on daily life that a person could really benefit from getting professional help. Treatment and therapy can help you overcome trauma and heal.
Discover How Serenity Grove Addresses Past Trauma to Promote Healing
Many different therapies are designed to be either trauma-informed or specifically as trauma therapies. It is okay to need professional support in overcoming past trauma. It may just be the quickest path to healing. Call 844.904.3485 to learn more about how Serenity Grove can help you learn to let go of past trauma. You can also reach us by filling out our online contact form.
