Life is full of ups and downs. There are moments when we might feel happiness, calmness as well as pleasant recollections, yet there are other circumstances when it seems that life strikes back us so hard with pain. Emotional trauma is also one of such silent wars that most of us experience but do not speak about. It is a form of wound, which cannot be observed on the skin, but it is even more painful than bodily harm.
In Nigeria, others are holding onto emotional wounds in their hearts and do not even know how to deal with them. There are those who are strolling with smiles on their faces yet in their hearts they are broken and hurt. This is the reason, why it is so important to discuss emotional trauma, know it and learn how to overcome it.
When an emotional event leaves a lasting impression on the mind and heart, this is what occurs, emotional trauma. It may be the loss of a loved one, it may be rejection by family or friends, the people you are in a relationship with may betray you, you may grow up in an abusive family or even your exposure to some sudden tragedies such as accidents, kidnappings, or violence. When this occurs, the heart is unsafe, the mind is shaken and life starts to weigh heavy.
An emotional trauma, unlike a physical wound, is impossible to display to a person, but it influences the lifestyle, thoughts, and the relationships people have. As an illustration, a person who has experienced heartbreak can be unable to trust it. A child who experienced unrelenting abuse might not get rid of fear even as an adult. When another individual loses a job after years of hard work, he might be hopeless in the future. This proves that trauma is not only dependent on what occurred, but also on the impact it has created.
It is one of the heartbreaking facts in Nigeria that most people are not even aware of trauma when they encounter it. With our culture, oftentimes we are conditioned to be tough and to simply move on. A young man that has lost his father can be told, you are now the man of the house, weep not. A betrayed wife can be told, to forget about it and attend to the children.
Such words might seem encouraging but they will not heal the wound. Trauma is not a thing that you can shake off you have to heal it inside out. When it is neglected, it may have such implications as depression, anger, fear, and even the break-ups of relationships in the future.
Trauma has numerous signs, which remain silent in many cases. Even in secure locations one can always be anxious. Others have problems sleeping at night as their minds are restless. Other people can experience sudden anger, sadness or even loss of interest in things they enjoy.
It may happen that people do not want to go somewhere, listen to the song, or meet friends because they think about the painful experience. Others cannot even trust people or form new relationships since the past is still too recent for their hearts. All this is an indication that the heart is bearing a burden it cannot bear on its own.
In Nigeria, traumas are very numerous. There are people who were growing up without parental love and care and the lack of affection had created a hole in their heart. Others have experienced heartbreak in relationships giving their all to someone they had trust. You can find many youths struggling with disappointment of not finding employment after the completion of school and some of the business owners are struggling with the disappointment of betrayal by intimate partners.
Many families have been bereft of their loved ones in the north of the nation because of insecurity and attacks and the effects are felt over a long period. The distressing fact is that since not enough attention is paid to mental health in Nigeria, many people are suffering in silence.
However hard the pain may be, it is possible to overcome emotional trauma. Healing does not imply forgetting of what happened, it is denying the pain control of your life any longer. The healing process is not a smooth ride, however, it can be done. The initial one is to recognize the pain. It does not help to act as though everything is okay. The process of healing starts when you come to yourself and say, I am hurt and I need to feel better. No one is weak when he or she admits pain; it is rather a sign of courage.
The second is to open your heart and discuss it. In our society, it is trained to conceal their issues and silence is something that keeps the wound alive. A conversation with a close friend, a mentor, a spiritual guide or even a professional counselor can ease the burden in the heart. It is such a relief to talk to someone who listens at times.
Religion is also an effective healing tool of emotional trauma. A good number of us are religious people in Nigeria and during difficult moments, prayer is something that comes to our rescue. In Matthew 11: 28, the Bible explains that, Come to me, all ye that are weary and burdened, and I will rest you. These are words that demonstrate that God can bear pains that are too hefty.
The word of God can give peace to an already broken heart by reading, listening to messages of hope and being surrounded by people who support your faith. Prayer does not make the past different, but it can impart power to stand up to the future with bravery.
Forgiveness is another component of healing. It is never easy to forgive and this is more so when the wound is deep. And making on to anger keeps the wound open. Forgiveness does not imply that whatever was done against you was right; it is just that you are refusing to leave the wrong to continue controlling your heart.
You also set yourself free by forgiving and you are out of the prison of bitterness. It is as though you have been carrying a heavy burden and you have dropped it. This is a challenge to many in Nigeria since they believe that forgiveness renders them weak yet forgiveness is one of the most powerful decisions that can be taken.
You should also take care of your body as you recover trauma. Emotional pain has an impact also on the body. Healthy food, exercise and sleep can assist the mind to heal. Simplistic activities such as walking, dancing or even a visit to nature may calm the soul. It is also helpful to be around positive people and not be in toxic environments.
Healing can involve establishing new habits, developing hobbies that can make one happy or even doing volunteer work. The mind starts healing slowly when you change your mindset and stop thinking about the pain, but think about something positive instead.
Patience is also needed to overcome the trauma. Cure is not overnight. There will be days when you will be strong and other days when the memories will reoccur. Nevertheless, the key thing is to continue on. Every small step is progress. Others would want instant healing and become discouraged because the pain is not gone the next minute. However, emotional wounds just as physical wounds do, take time to heal. The scars might be left, but they will no longer be painful as it was at the beginning.
To sum up, emotional trauma is one of the unspoken wars of many Nigerians. It may be based on heart-break, abuse, loss, rejection or the hardships of life. Nevertheless, however painful it is, it can be cured. The process starts with the acceptance of the pain, discussing it, relying on faith, forgiving, and taking care of the body and mind.
The recovery might be gradual, yet definite. Emotional trauma need not be the tone of the rest of your life. You can conquer it, get peace once more and even utilize your story to motivate others who are still suffering. The suffering can be seasonal but with hope and courage happy times can come once again.
0.000 SRY