We all have traumas that we have to deal with in one way or another. Some of us have deep wounds that don’t seem to heal no matter what we do. If you have been trying to heal for a long time, you already know how mentally and physically exhausting it can be to relive something painful over and over again. You may be at this point of your life when you think you will never heal. Every individual is different and for everyone healing time and process will depend on their unique situation, but here are some general reasons what could be postponing your healing. If you have been asking yourself why you are not healing, this post is for you!
It Has Not Been Enough Time
I know you probably don’t want to hear it, but sometimes the answer is simple – it has not been long enough. Of course, time is not the only thing that heals wounds, but it is one of the important aspects of healing.
Allowing yourself the time to process trauma is essential. No trauma heals overnight.
Many people cannot wait, therefore indulge in unhealthy practices to numb their pain. While I understand why this happens, numbing the pain is not the long-term solution to this problem.
You Have Not Allowed Yourself To Process Your Trauma
Maybe it has been a long time, but the pain is still there. Processing emotions associated with trauma can be important for healing. Of course, in some cases professional help and guidance may be needed.
In many cases, our brain does shut down and avoids processing emotions in order to protect itself. While it can be pretty normal and “OK” temporarily, addressing those buried feelings and emotions will most likely be eventually needed for healing.
EMDR (Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) is a great way to process emotions without needing to bring on a surface those painful memories.
You Are Still In Toxic Environment/Relationships
Many of my clients cannot leave the place they live in, family relationships, toxic work place. It is completely normal and understandable, but it doesn’t make it easier to heal.
Unfortunately, healing usually requires big shift, change, escape from the things that harmed us on a first place. If it is not possible, we can only focus of trying to feel a bit better by setting boundaries, implementing self-care, and talking to a therapist.
You Neglect Your Physical And Mental Health
Just as I have mentioned earlier, when we rely only on time to heal our wounds, we don’t necessarily allow ourselves to fully recover.
Of course, some trauma tremendously impact every aspect of individual’s life, and it becomes hard to sleep, eat, and the other way around (trauma may lead to depression, chronic fatigue, and chronic overeating).
But for many individuals, self-care can go a long way. If we take care of our physical health and support our mental health with therapy, it can go a long way.
Maybe you don’t rest enough, don’t drink enough water, or don’t nurture your body properly. Pay attention to your basic needs to heal from trauma.
There is not always a specific reason why someone is not healing. Like I said, it is a very individual process that takes time, patience, and dedication. But we can always at least start thinking about how we can help ourselves feel better. There is hope, and this post will hopefully remind you of that.
~ Tren
Click here to make an appointment with your therapist.
Recent Comments