Emotional trauma, whether stemming from a single distressing event or prolonged exposure to adverse circumstances, can have profound effects on our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Its impact can linger long after the initial experience, shaping our thoughts, behaviors, and relationships in ways we may not fully recognize. A closer look at how emotional trauma affects us moving forward, why it’s crucial to address it.

I have also included some techniques to help manage and heal from trauma.

How Emotional Trauma Affects Us:

Different people respond differently to trauma. Many hide behind a happy face or a cheerful outlook in life but they affect us differently as we move on with our lives. Here are some of the ways they impact us.

1. Psychological Impact: Emotional trauma can lead to symptoms such as anxiety, depression, intrusive thoughts, and hypervigilance. It can also affect our self-esteem, sense of safety, and ability to trust others. Since it affects our trust in others as well, This may lead to relationship breakdowns with people that are closest to us.

1. Emotional Regulation: Trauma can disrupt our ability to regulate emotions, leading to mood swings, anger outbursts, or emotional numbness. We may find ourselves easily triggered by seemingly insignificant events or situations that are reminiscent of the traumatic experience.

1. Physical Manifestations: The effects of trauma often extend beyond the psychological realm, manifesting as physical symptoms such as headaches, gastrointestinal issues, chronic pain, and fatigue. In more serious cases, it may also cause illnesses such as cancer or other diseases.

1. Interpersonal Relationships: Trauma can strain relationships with friends, family, and romantic partners. It may lead to difficulties in communication, intimacy issues, and a tendency to withdraw or isolate oneself.

Why We Need to Deal with Emotional Trauma:

If we are able to deal with this trauma, we are able to improve so many aspects of our lives.

Here are some areas that might improve as we deal with our traumas.

1. Quality of Life: Addressing emotional trauma is essential for improving overall quality of life. By processing and healing from traumatic experiences, individuals can experience greater emotional well-being, improved relationships, and a greater sense of inner peace.
2. Preventing Escalation: Untreated emotional trauma can escalate over time, leading to more severe mental health issues such as PTSD, substance abuse, or suicidal thoughts. Early intervention can help prevent these complications.

1. Breaking the Cycle: Unresolved trauma can perpetuate negative patterns of behavior and thinking, impacting not only the individual but also future generations. By breaking the cycle of trauma, individuals can create a healthier legacy for themselves and their families.

Techniques to Deal with Emotional Trauma:

There are some techniques that are effective in dealing with emotional trauma as and when these emotions arise. You can consider learning EFT (Emotional Freedom technique) AFT (Aroma freedom Technique) and ESR (Emotional stress release)

I have listened down how these techniques can help us deal with emotional trauma

1. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT): EFT, also known as tapping, involves gently tapping on specific meridian points on the body while focusing on the traumatic memory or emotion. This technique aims to release emotional distress and restore balance to the body’s energy system. For example, someone experiencing anxiety related to a past trauma might use EFT by tapping on their karate chop point while repeating affirmations like, “Even though I feel anxious, I deeply and completely love and accept myself.”
   
   We are able to write a whole script and read it out loud while we are tapping various spots around the head, face and upper torso.

1. Aroma Freedom Technique (AFT): AFT combines principles of psychology and aromatherapy to address emotional trauma. It involves the use of specific essential oils while guiding individuals through a series of affirmations and visualization exercises. For instance, someone dealing with trauma related to fear might inhale calming essential oils like lavender or chamomile while repeating affirmations like, “I release the fear and embrace peace.”

1. In Applied Kinesiology, there is a technique called the Emotional Stress Release technique. This technique is also used as a Self-Help application.

When we are ‘overwhelmed’ by life, we naturally put our head into our hands. This is the body’s own way of reducing the stress we are experiencing. This technique requires a light touch on the frontal eminences, the bumps on the forehead, above the eyes, between the eyebrows and the hairline. The light touch on this reflex point has a harmonizing effect on the energy of the forebrain where new options and ideas are processed. Lightly place your finger tips onto your forehead – and think about the issue, i.e. the emotional or troubling situation that is causing you stress. 

Touch encourages the ‘body’s circulation’ to flow to the front of the brain – away from the ‘fight/flight/freeze/flock area of the brain. The brain can be creative and think of new solutions without emotion being involved.

These techniques offer individuals tools to process and heal from emotional trauma in a holistic manner. By integrating mind, body, and spirit, they empower individuals to reclaim their emotional well-being and move forward with greater resilience and inner strength.