Trauma is a complex issue that can affect an individual for a long time, and each person’s recovery process is unique. Getting a degree in mental health doesn’t guarantee a full recovery from trauma. But it may give you the skills and tools needed to help manage your mental well-being.
PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, affects at least 6 in 100 American adults, estimated the National Center for PTSD. Their site also mentions that nearly 12 million adults in the USA experience PTSD in any given year.
This is a significant number, and if you or a loved one is going through PTSD, here are a few steps that can be taken to help yourself heal in the long term. Going to a therapist or a professional is, of course, the recommended course of action.
There are also certain other things that you can do to help yourself heal. In this article, we discuss some of them.
Get a Degree in Mental Health
Getting a degree in mental health can help you heal from trauma in several ways:
- You will develop a deep understanding of trauma, its causes, and its effects on the mind and body. This knowledge can help you better understand your experiences and feelings and make sense of what you’re going through.
- It will provide you with a supportive community of peers and educators who are also interested in mental health and healing. This can provide a sense of belonging, understanding, and validation.
- It can also open up a career as a therapist or counselor. This can provide you with a sense of purpose and a way to help others who have gone through a tragic and life-changing experience.
Start a Career as a Licensed Therapist
In most cases, providing therapy without a license is illegal and considered unprofessional. To provide therapy, a person typically needs to have the appropriate education, training, and licensure.
If you decide to start a career as a therapist, make sure your software infrastructure is up to the mark to minimize your setup anxieties. Browse reliable online resources that will help you find software customized for mental health billing solutions.
Invest in accounting and record-keeping systems to balance your profitability goals along with your need for achieving self-actualization through a rewarding career.
A degree in mental health can help an individual develop self-awareness and insight, which are important for healing from trauma. Through their studies, they may learn about different coping mechanisms, triggers and, how to identify them, and how to manage emotions.
It can provide you with the skills and tools you need to manage the effects of trauma. You may learn about different therapeutic approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, which can help you work through your traumatic experiences and learn new ways of coping with stress.
There are 198,811 therapists currently employed in the United States, according to leading job portal Zippia.com. The average age of a therapist is 41 years, according to Zippia. This is just an indicator of the fact that you are never too young or too old to take up this role.
Develop Self-Awareness
Self-awareness can play a critical role in healing from trauma by providing an individual with a deeper understanding of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It can help them identify patterns that may be holding them back from healing and empower them to make positive changes.
Self-awareness can empower you to take control of your healing process. By understanding your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, you can make conscious choices to change.
Start by identifying triggers that may set off traumatic memories or feelings. Once you are aware of these triggers, you can take steps to avoid or manage them.
Find coping mechanisms and evaluate whether they are helpful or harmful. Explore new coping strategies that may be more effective in managing trauma.
Connect with Trauma Survivors
Connecting with other trauma survivors can be beneficial in the healing process. When individuals connect with others who have had similar experiences, they may feel less alone and more understood.
Talking about one’s trauma with others who have also experienced trauma can help to normalize the feelings and reactions that come with it. This can lead to a sense of validation and acceptance, which can be important in the healing process.
Being part of a support group or therapy group with other trauma survivors can be especially helpful for those who may feel isolated or disconnected from others. Participating in a support group or therapy group can provide opportunities for individuals to learn coping skills and strategies for dealing with their trauma, which can be beneficial for healing.
Take Part in Volunteering Services
Volunteering can be a powerful tool for healing from trauma. It can help individuals process their experiences and feelings and provide a sense of purpose and meaning. By helping others, individuals may find a sense of empowerment and control, which can help to counteract feelings of helplessness and powerlessness that often accompany trauma.
It can help individuals to build supportive relationships with others, which can be crucial for healing. Furthermore, volunteering can help to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
Volunteering is not a new concept in the United States. April 17th-23rd was celebrated as National Volunteering Week last year. We suggest you try to volunteer this year if you are not doing it already. Choose a charity or organization that resonates with your core values and principles so that your stint as a volunteer is meaningful.
It’s worth noting that self-awareness is not a one-time process. It’s a continuous journey that requires practice and patience. Healing from trauma is a unique process, and self-awareness is just one aspect of it. One should seek professional help and guidance when needed.
However, having a deeper understanding of mental health, learning self-awareness and coping skills, being part of a supportive community, and having the potential for a career in the field, can be beneficial for someone who wants to recover from trauma.
