People from all walks of life have struggled, in some form or another, with damaged emotions or hurt pride. They've endured negativity through poor self-talk or through others' words and actions, causing damage that needs to be dealt with. Too often, these feelings are suppressed in an attempt to make them go away.
Whether you’ve experienced trauma from a divorce or relationship breakup, losing a job, loss of a friendship, or substance abuse, you may begin to feel numb, disconnected and lose trust in others.
The good news is there is hope. Those who are searching for emotional healing can take some very important steps to finally begin the healing process and move on with a healthy mindset.
Face the truth
The first step toward achieving positive emotional health is to face the truth. Living in denial and pretending certain events didn’t happen will never set you free. When you have a negative or traumatic memory that persists, examine it. For instance, what caused the event? Was it certain words, a fight, or another situation? More importantly, ask what you can learn from the experience.
A useful way to examine bad experiences is to write them down on paper. Write down these things like how you feel and what you think the problem may be. Keep a detailed journal, jotting down these memories for a few weeks, then look over it for patterns and clues.
Accept support
When you are on the journey to healing, it is important to connect with loved ones or other people who have been through similar situations. Avoid isolating yourself. Rather, surrounding yourself with those who support, love and respect is critical to the healing process.
If you have developed unhealthy self-talk from your trauma, replace those thoughts with a positive experience or place instead. While, ultimately, changing behaviors and improving emotional health is up to you, a strong support system of friends and loved ones can only encourage you.
Seek help from trained professionals
It’s never a bad idea to seek professional guidance from a trained therapist of life coach. You may wish to attend individual or group therapy or seek the help of someone trained in the field of emotional trauma.
There are also self-help courses available that are designed to teach you procedures and techniques to obtain self-fulfillment. For instance, during an intensive 3 day course, Landmark Forum reviews ways to bring about positive, permanent shifts in its participant’s lives. These shifts are intended to improve the quality of your relationships, bring about confidence within the way you live your life, and helps you on your journey to emotional well-being.
When you’ve experienced an emotional trauma, it can be hard to allow yourself to heal. With determination and willingness to take the right steps, you’ll be on your way to healing, and experiencing new levels of joy that come along with it.
