Trauma Symptoms & How Your Relationship With God Can Help With Trauma Recovery
Table of Contents
In this post we are going to be discussing the major signs of trauma, so that you can identify if you or a loved one are suffering. We will also discuss how leaning into your relationship with God, can help you on your recovering journey.
Indications You Are Suffering From Trauma
Following a really traumatic experience, you may believe that you’re handling things rather well. But did you know, that telling people you’re alright and thinking you’re fine is one of the most typical trauma reactions?
As with the other common trauma response states, of being in ‘fight or flight‘, pretending to be okay often originates from self-denial. Unfortunately, your healing process may take longer if you refuse to acknowledge that you require help, processing your traumatic experience.
Anybody can experience trauma and there are many triggers to experiencing it. Some people may have had a difficult childhood, some may have been abused physically or emotionally, others sexually abused, being in potentially fatal accidents, or having a chronic illness. Everybody handles traumatic experiences differently, and in the wake of the tragedy, they discover meaning and purpose that helps to accelerate their healing process.
It’s very difficult to overcome trauma on your own. It’s likely you may need support, counselling, and the appropriate resources to help you move past your past and into the present.
The following symptoms are some of the most common traumatic symptoms to keep watch for:
It’s Challenging For You to Work
Similar to being unable to able to sleep or appreciate life, you may also begin to find it hard to concentrate at work.
Your brain may lack room to focus upon anything else if you are always afraid that something horrible might happen to you. Work is one place where this symptom regularly shows up. Brain fog is a frequent trauma response that may be causing you to make stupid mistakes, forget how to do things, call in unwell or put off finishing your obligations. Experiencing difficulty staying organized is another example that people struggle with.
Of course, if you can’t function effectively at work, you could end up losing your job, (which would only make your problems worse!). Getting help to deal with this from an expert christian counsellor is often a good idea if you observe changes in your performance at work or at home. And consulting a specialist, is not a sign of weakness.
You’re Sleep Deprived
Insomnia following a traumatic event can manifest itself days, weeks, months, or even years later. Insomnia is most commonly characterized by the difficulty to go asleep or stay asleep, although it can also show itself as an early wake-up time or tiredness after sleeping.
Understanding the underlying cause of sleeplessness is crucial. While people can occasionally have trouble falling asleep, chronic insomnia is frequently a result of spiritual and/or mental health issues since those who are depressed and anxious are more likely to suffer it. For this reason, rather than just treating the insomnia itself, the underlying cause of the must be addressed first.
You Fail to Find Peace, Joy & Contentment
You can be knocked down and deflated by trauma. While occasional depression is considered acceptable by the mainstream, it does becomes problematic when you are unable to discover or experience happiness or joy in your life.
Seek trauma treatment with a qualifed pastor or christian counsellor/psychologist if you are experiencing social withdrawal, losing interest in your old interests and hobbies, feeling hopeless, or finding it difficult to feel happy or hopeful. All of these symptoms could be indicators of depression or even PTSD, which are prevalent conditions following traumatic experiences.
You’re Dependent on Alcohol or Drugs/Medications
Were you aware that alcohol and drugs are frequently used as strategies to escape the suffering or memories connected to the traumatic experiences? These remedies are not something that people really think they will end up relying on, or end up misusing, so it’s important to be discussed.
These ‘remedies’ could send you down a hazardous path. Not only may substance misuse lead to dangerous medical conditions like cancer, dementia, stroke, and high blood pressure, but it can also make you dependent on the chemicals that the substances release, making it more difficult to cut them off in the future.
You’re Getting Ill Physically
We frequently assume that a traumatic incident would mostly impact our mental health, but trauma can also have an impact on our physical health.
After all, bodily symptoms like elevated heart rate, perspiration, light headedness, headaches, stomach aches, joint discomfort, and a pins-and-needles sensation in your extremities are likely to accompany high levels of worry.
Even while these sensations could be caused by other things, including a headache from coffee withdrawal or dehydration, persistent symptoms should indicate that you need to get treatment for your trauma. Nobody should be in continual pain or illness, especially when there are easily accessible treatments.
You’re Having Flashbacks
While not everyone who experiences a horrific event will go on to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, at least six out of every 100 individuals will eventually develop PTSD and deal with its symptoms.
Reliving the past is one of these most typical symptoms. When someone has a flashback, they are transported back to the horrific experience and frequently feel the same amount of terror and anxiety as they did at the time. Moreover, bodily symptoms like vertigo and swearing might be brought on by flashbacks.
The Connection Between Trauma and Our Relationship With God
Our relationship with God is so important when it comes to dealing with trauma. Our spirituality and our beliefs can ground us a and lead to a sense of connectedness to something bigger than ourselves! to the father’s heart.
In the wake of experiencing trauma, turning back to our Heavenly Father enables us to discover inner peace and a sense of quiet and tranquillity as well as to investigate and discover the meaning and purpose of what he wants for us in our future.
Trauma can cause us to feel estranged from our surroundings, from ourselves, and it can destroy our sense of meaning and purpose in life. It also raises a lot of concerns about the meaning and purpose of our lives.
For example, we might begin to re-examine our basic beliefs and values if we lose a loved one, such as our mother or husband, to a terminal illness. Our relationship with God is crucial because it helps us within our trauma to discover additional meaning and purpose moving forward through these these painful challenges. We can begin to find peace and strength in the midst of stress by meditating on scripture more and reviving our prayer life. Even moving on from trauma and finding a way to further develop our spiritual gifts may be something to think about.
Discovering Purpose and Significance During Trauma Recovery
After going through trauma, re-focusing on discovering God’s plan for our lives and God’s will for us may seem at times difficult and complicated process. It involves being aware of your ideas and investigating your underlying values, passions, beliefs, and aspirations in life.
By figuring out how to use the terrible experience as a teaching and learning opportunity, focusing on God again, in the wake of catastrophic occurrences enables you to do things differently, learn from your experience, and positively touch the lives of others.
In the aftermath, you can discover meaning and purpose in the following ways:
Our relationship with God is crucial because it helps us within our trauma to discover additional meaning and purpose moving forward through these these painful challenges.
Take Care of Your Physical, Mental & Emotional Well-Being
After going through trauma, finding meaning and purpose also entails self-care and lavishing oneself with love. It’s easy to forget that God loves us, and that we should show ourselves this kindness and show ourselves love by taking care of ourselves. Spend some time every day taking care of your physical, mental, and emotional well-being by doing things that make you happy, like working out, meditating in the Word, getting more sleep, and spending time with uplifting friends and family.
Accept The Things That Make You Unique
Discover your strengths and leverage them to improve your life by seizing any chances for personal development and by contributing to the betterment of others. Reading the bible and focusing on God’s ways will help us see over time what our natural gifts are and how we can use them for the good of others and the glory of God! Obviously this takes some time after you’ve been through trauma, but just opening up and being willing is a good first step.
Find Ways To Contribute to Society
Finding opportunities to serve others and give back to the community can frequently assist trauma survivors in discovering meaning and purpose in life. This might be supporting people who might have gone through a trauma somewhat similar to your own, volunteering, and giving of time or money to causes that you yourself have been touched and influenced by.
Examine Your Basic Values And Beliefs
After going through a terrible event, give yourself some space to reflect and consider your principles and beliefs. Consider your goals in life, the potential effects of trauma on your values and beliefs, and the steps you might take to overcome them.
Re-establish Your Connection With God
The term “spirituality” has several meanings and connotations for different individuals. Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Spend some more time in prayer if that’s what it takes to become more spiritually connected. Write out a list of bible verses that may be relevant to you. If you’re a bit old fashioned like me, a concordance can do the trick!
Trauma can be upsetting and frequently has a long-lasting detrimental effect on one’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. You give yourself permission to recover when you discover meaning and purpose in life after going through trauma.
During difficult circumstances, spirituality can offer a secure haven where you can rediscover your inner serenity, solace, resilience, and hope. Finally, it discovers meaning, purpose, and connection in your life.
Father, I ask In the Name of Your Son Jesus, to make Your presence known to me each and every single day. In the name of Jesus, I speak healing and restoration upon over every hurt, wound and sorrow that has been placed on me. I bind every wound in the name of Jesus and speak your healing to them, now.
Lord, uncover and uproot every lie that has come into my mind and heart due to the trauma I have experienced. Show me through revelation and your Word that every lie I have been believing is broken now and destroyed. Cleanse me Lord and make me new. I thank you that your love is so powerful and mighty that it conquers all fear.
Thank you Father God, that all sin and every transgression (whether mine, or others) is forgiven and completely removed from me as far as the east is from the west. I thank you that you bought and paid for me with a price and all fear, depression, shame, anxiety and guilt is gone now! In the name of Jesus. I thank you and I declare my freedom now, in Jesus name! I praise you that all of my freedom has been bought with the price of your son, In Jesus name, AMEN.
