incredible-marketing Arrow

What it Really Means to Grow and Thrive After Trauma

Trauma changes people’s lives in many ways. They are emotionally, physically, and spiritually different as a result of having lived through trauma. People who experience trauma later in life are also changed, but children are especially impacted at a vulnerable time. They are more likely to struggle with anxiety, depression, negative self-beliefs, and many other things as a result. To thrive as an adult following trauma might require lots of work, especially if that person is addicted to substances as a coping mechanism for past trauma. There is flourishing after trauma. It simply takes a while to learn how to cope with the past in a positive way.

How People Flourish

The following are some factors that allow a person to be eligible for personal growth as a result of their experiences:

  • Finding purpose
  • Learning to shift perspectives
  • Developing an optimistic outlook
  • Create a social network
  • Cope better with negative memories

Learned helplessness is a belief that there is nothing to be done about a situation and it is all out of their hands to control. When things are difficult, to flourish a person has to push themselves to heal. Attitude is everything when it comes to experiences. Optimism is not easy but people expect positive outcomes and it is not always possible. To find optimism in a person’s life, they may need to unlearn old patterns and relearn new ones.

Developing New Habits

To grow and thrive after trauma as an adult, it means seeking therapeutic support for the journey. They will guide a person’s direction in finding hope in the midst of suffering. Some of the things they might have a person try while developing new habits:

  • Write down what brings joy or happiness. Create awareness of what is working and recognize the value in that (since people who experience trauma tend to get stuck in past memories or struggle to find positive things to focus on)
  • Write down what seems possible and what you want to achieve. Write down one or two things to explore with a friend or therapist
  • Write down what feels necessary to set goals, including perceptions and what needs to shift

Setting goals is important but so is accountability. Recovery is all about accountability. This comes from therapists, family, and loved ones but also sober companions who know the struggle is real. If they can help walk a person through the experiences, they might find growth and opportunity waiting on the horizon.

The Guest House Ocala welcomes people who are struggling with addiction. We help you find ways to overcome trauma with therapy, medication, intentional work around addictive behaviors and thought patterns as well as supporting your personal goals for healing. We work together to support your journey. Call us to find out how to get started: 1-855-483-7800