HOW TO USE IT?

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There is not a universal process to overcome emotional trauma that perfectly fits everyone. Instead, there are relevant overarching topics that apply to the way individuals can handle most traumas. You can seek different forms of professional counseling including family, group or individual therapy, but in this discipline, we are going to focus specifically on practices and mechanisms that you can implement in your own life. (GoodTherapy.org, 2015)

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In Fears & Traumas, we emphasized the importance of allowing yourself to emotionally respond to the traumas that you have been carrying with you. This step is incredibly important because it gives you the opportunity to reflect and understand so that you can have the power to reach a point of closure and move beyond these traumas. However, it is just as important to make sure you do not dwell on the emotional pain caused by these events. For example, it may take a long time for you to fully acknowledge all the emotions surrounding an event, but you should not intentionally brood over emotions surrounding these events to further distress or emotionally upset yourself. (Mercola, 2013) This behavior is dangerous and counterintuitive to the goal to reach emotional security and closure.

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Below is a compiled list of strategies from Winch (2014), Whitbourne (2013), and Mercola (2013) to work through emotional stresses and traumatic burdens you are facing in your life. This compiled list is not meant to be practiced in a linear order, but to be used simultaneously to grow beyond the trauma. Some topics may be more difficult to master than others, and no one person will have the same experience as their peers. Instead, practice these strategies regularly to improve your emotional health and work toward your brighter future.

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• Rejection is oftentimes incredibly painful and it comes in many forms. Holding onto rejection, however, can be even more destructive than the act itself. It is important to build up your self-worth by focusing on your strengths when struggling with rejection. Use this opportunity to seek out supportive and loving people in your life. Rejection is painful, but it does not define you. Don’t give it the power to question your worth. Remember, you are valuable.

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• Actively practice self-love. For some, positive affirmations may be difficult at first, so start with self-affirmations. For instance, focus on the acts you do that are positive such as having a strong work ethic or attention to detail. Eventually, you will work up to practicing positive affirmations that include “I am kind” and “I am worthy.” At first, this might seem inconsequential, but over time, you will gain a stronger sense of self-worth, self-love and self-respect.

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• It has been proven that physical health and emotional health are interdependent. To become emotionally healthy, it is important to consider your amount of exercise and the type of food you eat. It might seem trivial, but if you are constantly eating junk food and maintain a sedentary lifestyle, you will struggle when working on your emotional heath. 

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• If there are toxic relationships in your life that are hindering your emotional growth, it is important to remove yourself from these relationships. On the other end of the spectrum, loneliness and isolation can cause depression. Instead, connect and develop relationships with loving and supportive individuals that encourage you on your best days and your worst.

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• Failure incurs a similar pain to rejection. You should never focus on your lack of ability, place blame on yourself, or feel helpless after failure however. Instead consider things you can improve on, but most importantly focus on trying again because you can succeed! Do not let failure weaken your self-worth!

 

• Lingering guilt can often cripple you and hinder your daily activities. If you feel you have wronged someone, it is important to address the situation and genuinely apologize for your actions. Regardless of the response you receive, you must then forgive yourself so that you can be free from the burden of guilt. 

 

• Practice mindfulness. When you emotionally respond to daily situations, learn to separate past emotions from current emotions. By paying attention to emotional pain as it arises, you practice awareness and prevent emotional wounds from festering into something larger. 

 

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This discipline is not a substitute for professional counseling, therapy or advice. It is meant to provide guidelines to manage emotional stress and traumas in daily application, but it is highly suggested that you reach out to a professional or a trusted mentor. RLA is a support system and resource as you face aging out of the foster care system so that you do not have to tackle this transition alone!