Being Free of Trauma
At times, we are kept from achieving our full potential due to some kind of emotional trauma that we could have faced as a child. The painful or distressful experience can result in mental stress and might not surface until much later. Many dismiss these subject as irrelevant because they have not experienced major trauma in their life. They associate trauma with incidents like physical or sexual abuse, abandonment, emotional neglect, and so on. But a child with a complete loving family unit can also experience trauma.
We are born into this world with two innate fears: the fear of falling and the fear of loud sounds. Everything else is what we picked up along our journey into adulthood. You feel anxious during a presentation, and are afraid of messing it up. This could be a result of you getting scolded in class for giving a wrong answer. How about, for those who are constantly seeking attention from others? Maybe they could have been overlooked in their family because of other siblings. Sometimes the fear of rejection or the need to be validated can turn someone into a people pleaser.
When you experience anxiousness or panic attacks out of nowhere, it could be a result of something that happened in your childhood. Even when people are successful, some things haunt them too. If left unattended, this could lead to other physical and mental issues. For example, you might face poor physical health as a result. Or you suffer from mental issues like not being able to trust, FOMO, or even avoiding failure at the cost of abandoning your dreams.
If any of these resonate with you, take steps to come out of this destructive cycle. You can follow some of these practical tips:
1) Write it down - Journaling is a great form of outlet to pen down your thoughts or feelings. Once you have it on paper, you can take time to reflect on your feelings and ask yourself why you feel that way.
2) Talk about it - Share your feelings with your trusted friends and relatives. A close friend can act as an accountability partner when you experience when you feel like acting on your emotions
3) Self Care - Schedule a time for yourself and don't let anyone invade your privacy. It can be a specific place where you take time to unwind, or you can take up a hobby.
If you feel none of this is helping, and you are starting to have depressive or suicidal thoughts, do seek the help of a licensed therapist. There is no shame in seeking professional help. Sometimes the people around you won't understand your journey. They don't need to because it is not for them.
