Trauma has a uncanny way of negatively impacting people’s lives. Even after you believe you have dealt with or forgotten about a traumatic event, you may find yourself years later suffering from mental, emotional, and physical distress that severely disrupts your life.
When you are sincere about your desire to confront your past and move on with your life, you may need to rely on trained medical professionals to assist you. You could find the healing and rehabilitation you need by seeking help at a reputable recovery center.
Confronting Trauma Head-on
Coping with trauma for many people involves trying to forget about it or masking it with undesirable behaviors. So much so that many are calling for trauma to be treated as a public health crisis. You may have lapsed into drug or alcohol use to numb the mental, emotional, and physical pain you are experiencing because of a traumatic event.
These behaviors only provide a short-term and limited amount of relief and sooner than later lead to bigger issues like alcoholism that you may be unable to overcome by yourself. You could find yourself in legal trouble from using drugs or drinking and may even lose the things in life that mean the most to you like your job or custody of your children.
When you can acknowledge that you need help and are ready to confront the traumatic event head-on, you could find yourself on a path toward sobriety faster by checking yourself into a treatment center. These centers gear their programs specifically toward women and help patients effectively deal with trauma stemming from:
- Neglect
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Emotional or mental abuse
- Rape
The counselors, therapists, and other medical professionals at the center all have the training and experience to guide you in confronting the trauma you experienced and then processing it in a healthy and objective manner.
Addressing Connections to Past Trauma
You may not even be aware right now of why exactly you are using drugs or alcohol. All you know at this point is that you believe you cannot function normally without these substances. Trying to make it through a day completely sober could be a frightening and overwhelming experience.
In truth, these substances may have become such an emotional and mental crutch for you because they hide the traumatic memories lurking in your mind. When you use drugs or drink alcohol, you temporarily forget the pain and find it easier to get through each day. When the high wears off, you are once again confronted with traumatic memories and sensations you would rather never again experience.
When you check yourself into and undergo treatment at a women’s recovery center, you will be gently weaned off the substances to which you are addicted. There are many different types of alcohol rehab, but you will generally be given a thorough medical examination to determine what physical ailments you might suffer right now. Your medical team will then determine if you would benefit from prescription medications like antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication while you recover.
You also will be assigned a therapeutic team of counselors, therapists, and perhaps a psychiatrist. These professionals will counsel you during your stay at the recovery center. They will work with you in disclosing what trauma you endured earlier in your life and then guide you in healing from it.
Your days in the recovery center will be filled with therapeutic activities of all sorts. Among them, you can expect to undergo individual talk therapy with a licensed therapist or counselor. During these sessions, you will be able to give voice to the emotions you have been running from and hiding all of these years.
You also will take part in group therapy with other patients in the facility with you. Group therapy allows you to hear the stories of people who have undergone similar experiences as yours. You also will be able to speak up and share your experiences so others could find hope and inspiration in your strength.
Other activities that might allow you to heal include art and music therapy which have been found to heal trauma and aid in recovery. You also may be given a chance to exercise and enjoy activities like swimming or tennis, which can help strengthen both your mind and body. They also provide a therapeutic distraction during intense moments of withdrawal from drugs or alcohol.
Taking Action
A treatment center could offer you the healing you need to overcome past trauma in your life. The center that worked for me personally was called The Summit Wellness Group. If you go to the right place, the medical professionals assigned to your care will guide you toward sobriety and rehabilitation. You will learn to objectively and effectively process emotions and physical pain that you have hidden with substance abuse.
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