Trauma & PTSD

If you have gone through a traumatic experience, you may be struggling with upsetting emotions, frightening memories, or a sense of constant danger, you may feel numb, disconnected, and unable to trust other people. However, with the right treatment, self-help strategies, and support, you can recover,heal and move on.


Traumatic experiences often involve a threat to life or safety, but any situation that leaves you feeling overwhelmed and alone can be traumatic, even if it doesn’t involve physical harm.

Following a traumatic event, or repeated trauma, people react in different ways, experiencing a wide range of physical and emotional reactions. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to think, feel, or respond to trauma, so don’t judge your own reactions or those of other people. Your responses are NORMAL reactions to ABNORMAL events.

Recovering from a traumatic event takes time, and everyone heals at his or her own pace. But if months have passed and your symptoms aren’t letting up, you may need professional help

Tips for dealing with trauma:


Don't try and go through it alone. let someone in, accept help/support and most vitally, talk about what you have been though, what you are feeling.

Have hope.  It is important that you know that you can and will feel better. In the past you may have thought you would never feel better—that the horrible symptoms you experience would go on for the rest of your life.Many people who have experienced the same symptoms that you are experiencing are now feeling much better.They have gone on to make their lives the way they want them to be and to do the things they want to do.

Be present in the moment.   This is often referred to as mindfulness. Many of us spend so much time focusing on the future or thinking about the past that we miss out on fully experiencing what is going on in the present. Making a conscious effort to focus your attention on what you are doing right now and what is happening around you can help you feel better.

Get some little things done.   It always helps you feel better if you accomplish something,even if it is a very small thing. Think of some easy things to do that don’t take much time. Then do them. Here are some ideas: clean out one drawer, put five pictures in a photo album, dust a book case, read a page in a favorite book, do a load of laundry, cook yourself something healthy, send someone a card.

Write something.   Writing can help you feel better. You can keep lists, record dreams, respond to questions, and explore your feelings. All ways are correct. Don’t worry about how well you write. It’s not important. It is only for you. Writing about the trauma or traumatic events also helps a lot. It allows you to safely process the emotions you are experiencing. It tells your mind that you are taking care of the situation and helps to relieve the difficult symptoms you may be experiencing. Keep your writings in a safe place where others cannot read them. Share them only with people you feel comfortable with. You may even want to write a letter to the person or
people who have treated you badly, telling them how it affected you, and not send the letter.

Do something fun or creative. something you really enjoy, like crafts, needlework, painting,drawing, woodworking, making a sculpture, reading fiction, comics, mystery novels, or inspirational writings, doing crossword or jigsaw puzzles, playing a game, taking some photographs,going fishing, going to a movie or other community event, or gardening.