Trauma is a Catalyst
Trauma - the definition
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, trauma is defined as the following:
an injury (such as a wound) to living tissue caused by an extrinsic agent
a disordered psychic or behavioral state resulting from severe mental or emotional stress or physical injury
an emotional upset
These definitions, while somewhat similar, also leave a lot for subjective determination. What does trauma actually mean? What does it mean for a person having experienced trauma?
Here’s the thing, what one person perceives as a traumatic event, another can experience as a bump in the road. And for each of those individuals, that will be true. Trauma and how people experience trauma and react to it, is as wildly different as what can be considered trauma. Only you get to decide what is traumatic for you.
Trauma - the commonalities
Also according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, catalyst is defined as the following:
a substance that enables a chemical reaction to proceed at a usually faster rate or under different conditions than otherwise possible
an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action
For our purposes here, we will focus on the second definition.
Trauma, no matter what kind of trauma a person experiences, acts as a catalyst. It provokes significant change. The trauma itself changes us and then it provokes additional significant change because we have to then become the person we are after the trauma - this will always be different than who you were before it.
I will tell you - even when you think the hard part is over, you get another hard part. Acute care is necessary and important in the early parts of recovery. The medical, spiritual, and therapeutic world are prepared for the acute. They have a roadmap for that.
But, what happens when everyone thinks you are better? Or at least that you should be? What happens when you get to this point in your recovery and look around and think… now what? How do I move forward? How do I step back into my life? I cannot pretend this didn’t happen. I cannot pretend I am the same person.
Yes, there are some amazing trauma therapists out there. I was fortunate to have had great therapists, so I know how valuable that can be. But, how do you navigate the new you and weave it into your old life? Or, how do you create a new life that incorporates the new you into the aspects of the old you that you want to keep? How do you maintain relationships with the people who knew you before and don’t understand that you’ve changed and that you are continuing to change. Is there a roadmap for that?
This is where I come in. I am a trauma survivor and a coach. While my trauma is not the same as yours, I do know what it means to navigate through the murky waters of post-acute trauma. Using my skills and experience as a coach, I can help you. More than anything, I want to help people in the exact areas that I struggled and had to figure out the hard way.
If you want to talk about how I can help, book a consultation. I would love to get to know you and to support you in your journey.
