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By: Stephanie Compton-Bain, MA, LBS, LPC
Trauma work can be challenging, but it’s also empowering. Before starting any trauma processing, it’s essential that you feel safe and secure in your therapeutic relationship. You should always feel in control of your own story, with the freedom to share your experiences in a judgment-free environment. The process is about your personal journey, with space to explore your narrative at your own pace. A strong, supportive therapeutic relationship allows you to make choices that feel right for you, as you move through healing on your terms.
Let's define Trauma
While Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex Trauma (often referred to as Complex PTSD or C-PTSD) both arise from traumatic experiences, they differ in terms of the types of trauma involved, their symptoms, and the impact on a person’s emotional and psychological well-being. Understanding these distinctions can help guide appropriate treatment and support.
PTSD
typically results from a single traumatic event or a short-term, overwhelming experience. This might include events like a serious accident, natural disaster, assault, or a one-time act of violence. The trauma is often unexpected, leaving the person in shock and unable to process the event properly.
Complex Trauma
(C-PTSD), on the other hand, is caused by prolonged or repeated trauma, usually occurring over an extended period of time. This type of trauma often occurs in situations where the person feels trapped or powerless, such as childhood abuse or neglect, domestic violence, or living in a war zone. Complex trauma is more likely to occur in situations where a person has difficulty escaping the traumatic environment.
"Spending time getting curious about your experiences and naming for yourself an experience of trauma can allow the healing journey to begin. It's a process that requires bravery, self-compassion, and patience.
Whether you're just beginning your journey or are well into it, here are five important things I want you to keep in mind as you navigate the path toward healing."
1. You Are Brave for Acknowledging Your Trauma.
It takes incredible courage to face the parts of your life that have caused deep pain. Simply acknowledging that you have trauma is a brave step in itself. The decision to confront hard things and make changes, even though it may feel overwhelming, is a testament to your strength.
Being scared doesn’t mean you aren’t brave—it means you’re human. Bravery isn’t the absence of fear; it's the ability to move forward despite it. By facing your trauma, you're already showing the kind of strength and courage it takes to heal.
2. Shame, Fear, and Doubt Will Show Up—But That Doesn't Mean You Can’t Process Them.
Shame is one of the most common emotions people experience during trauma work. Feelings of fear and self-doubt often follow closely behind. It’s important to understand that these emotions are a natural part of the process. They might make you question your worth, your progress, or your ability to heal, but they don’t define you or your journey.
The presence of these feelings doesn't mean you’re failing. On the contrary, it’s a sign that you’re doing the work. You are capable of holding these emotions, processing them, and moving through them. This is part of what healing looks like.
3. Your Body Has Been Protecting You—Even When It’s Maladaptive.
Our bodies have incredible defense mechanisms, often developed in response to trauma. Whether it's fight, flight, or freeze, these responses are your body’s way of keeping you safe. Sometimes, though, these protective mechanisms can become maladaptive, leaving you stuck in freeze mode or feeling disconnected from yourself.
The good news is that you can reteach your body that it no longer needs to protect you in the ways it once did. Healing involves gently guiding your nervous system out of survival mode and helping it learn how to feel safe again. This is a slow, compassionate process that helps your body release old patterns and discover new, healthier ways of being.
4. Feeling Alone in Your Trauma Is Normal—But You Are Not Alone.
One of the most isolating aspects of trauma is the belief that no one else could possibly understand what you’re going through. This feeling of isolation is normal, but it's also deceptive. While every trauma experience is unique, the emotions that arise—fear, shame, sadness—are universal. Many others have walked a path similar to yours, even if it doesn't always feel that way.
You are not alone. By engaging in trauma work, you create space for connection—with your therapist, with your support system, and even with yourself. Acknowledging this connection can be a powerful part of the healing process.
5. Post-Traumatic Growth Is the Key.
Healing from trauma isn’t just about returning to a baseline of feeling “okay”—it’s about growing. Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) is the ability to find meaning, strength, and growth as you heal. It’s a powerful shift where you move from surviving to thriving.
The trauma you’ve experienced doesn’t define you, and the process of working through it allows you to uncover strengths, resilience, and insights you might not have known were there. This growth might not happen overnight, but with time, you'll start to notice positive changes in how you view yourself and the world around you.
Final Thoughts:
Trauma work is deeply personal, and it's not a linear journey. Some days will feel harder than others, but each step you take is a step toward healing. Remember that you are brave, that you can process the tough emotions that arise, and that your body is learning how to feel safe again. Above all, know that growth is possible, and you are never truly alone in this process.
Your healing matters—and it is worth every ounce of effort you put into it.
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