Sweeping it under the rug: Focusing on Hidden Trauma

​              The response "I'm okay," does not always seem to be true. Rightly? This response is stereotypical of answered questions, yet life itself can be abnormal. So many are going through life's most difficult situations that can seem unbearable.   Medical News Today states, “three types of traumas, acute trauma, chronic trauma, and complex trauma” (“What is trauma? Types, symptoms, and treatments", 2020).  Some hidden traumas are early childhood trauma, bullying, community violence, sexual abuse, physical abuse, disasters, and grief. Millions of people have been exposed to traumatic experiences that have silenced their honest response to how they feel.
           Northwestern Medicine reported, "The brain functions in different states, much like a radio operates at AM and FM frequency bands," Dr. Radulovic said  (Medicine, 2020). Unresolved trauma creates emotional barriers, such as stress, depression, and anxiety, which leads to behavioral and lifestyle changes. Sweeping the trauma under the rug covers up what needs to be confronted. Mental health is an essential part of a human's life.
According to Mental Health First Aid (Kapil, 2019),

• 46.4% of adults in the United States will experience a mental illness during their lifetime.
• 5 percent of adults (18 or older) experience a mental illness in any one year, equivalent to 43.8 million people.
• Half of all mental disorders begin by age 14 and three-quarters by age 24.

"Silence doesn't bring healing, honesty does." -SW

Signs and Symptoms of Trauma 

•     Shame/Guilt
•     Anger
•     Disconnecting from others 
•     Denial/Shock
•    Feeling hopeless

                                                                                                                                          
 Remember, therapy does not mean you are crazy. It is a safe space created just for you to express feelings, resolve conflicts, and find solutions to free your mind.  Lastly, here are a few healthy coping tips:

• Tip #1 Practice Mindfulness Breathing-Inhale peace and exhale negativity
• Tip #2 Journal Your Feelings- Declutter your thoughts by expressing yourself through writing
• Tip #3 Repeat Positive Affirmations Daily- Repeat positive affirmations to yourself until it becomes your reality.

Prayer for Healing from Trauma
Father God, I come to you with an open heart, asking you to break every chain that has suppressed my feelings, emotions, and behaviors. Your word says to cast all my cares upon You, for You care for me. (1 Peter 2:9) Thank you for loving me so much God that you sent Your only Son to die on the cross for my sins .  Isaiah 53:5  says that "But You was wounded for my transgressions, You was bruised for my iniquities; The chastisement for my  peace was upon Him, And by His stripes, I am healed.''  By faith, I believe that I am healed. I give You praise God for Your Miracle working power overtaking my life.  I come against the spirit of retaliation, and I bind up any evil forces. No weapon that is formed against me will not prosper. (Isaiah 54:17)  Give me eyes like an eagle so that I  may soar into my destiny that you have a plan for my life. In Jesus Name Amen.

Guest Blogger, Shammia Williams
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References:
Kapil, R. (2019).5 Surprising Mental Health Statistics - Mental Health First Aid. Mental Health First Aid. Retrieved 6 October 2020, fromhttps://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2019/02/5-surprising-mental-                  health statistics/.
Medicine, N. (2020).How the Brain Hides Traumatic Memories. Northwestern Medicine. Retrieved 6 October 2020, from https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/medical-advances/how-the-brain-hides-traumatic-memories.
What is trauma? Types, symptoms, and treatments. Medicalnewstoday.com. (2020). Retrieved 6 October 2020,  from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/trauma.