Trauma can profoundly damage a person’s sense of security and safety. Even if the traumatic event happened a long time ago, it may still affect your loved one’s life in various ways, leaving them feeling hopeless and isolated. They may keep their guard up, struggling to connect with others and maintain healthy relationships. Or they may feel unsafe and overwhelmed in environments where they should feel safe, struggling to make sense of their reactions and feeling edgy and irritable. Trauma can significantly impact your relationship with this person, whether they are your partner, child, sibling, or parent. Knowing how to help can be challenging, here are ways to help support a loved one dealing with trauma.
Dealing with Loved One’s Trauma: Therapy in San Clemente
Support from loved ones plays a crucial role in the healing process, offering comfort and stability that can ease the effects of trauma. Trauma therapy in South Orange County CA, can help you understand how to help with trauma someone you care about. So, here are the four ways to support a loved one dealing with trauma, according to a San Clemente psychologist.
1. Provide Emotional Support
Providing emotional support to a loved one dealing with trauma begins with understanding the signs of trauma. It may be challenging to recognize that your loved one is struggling because trauma can take subtle forms, such as fatigue, changes in sleep, or a lack of motivation. Your loved one may experience physical symptoms like chronic pain or headaches with no apparent causes, or they may develop compulsive behaviors or rituals that can be a response to trauma. Spotting these signs allows you to support a loved one dealing with trauma with care and compassion and encourage them to seek appropriate treatment.
So, listen actively when a loved one discusses their feelings or experiences. Avoid offering to fix the problem for them immediately because this is neither helpful in the long run nor possible when dealing with trauma. Instead, respond thoughtfully to their communication and be present with them, reassuring them that you are there for them. This type of emotional support enables the individual to feel heard, safe, and understood, which is critical in healing trauma.
2. Encourage Self-Care Habits
Beyond just offering emotional support, encourage self-care routines and offer to participate in some of them jointly. Self-care is essential when recovering from trauma. You can help a loved one regain a feeling of normalcy and personal well-being by encouraging them to schedule time for relaxation and enjoyable activities. Taking part in activities like mindfulness exercises, nature walks, or a weekly yoga class together also promotes the benefits of regular self-care in dealing with stress and getting better.
3. Help with Daily Tasks to Reduce Stress
You can offer practical support in recovery to ease the loved one’s stress and anxiety. For someone dealing with trauma, managing everyday tasks and responsibilities can be overwhelming. Whether it’s managing their appointments, cooking meals, running errands, or stepping in to help with chores, this practical support can be beneficial as it allows the person to focus more on their recovery without the distraction and burden of everyday stressors.
4. Encourage Professional Help: Trauma therapy in South Orange County CA.
It’s critical to understand when a loved one may require professional help. Emotional support for trauma by a San Clemente psychologist can help your loved one recognize and alleviate distress symptoms, identify and understand their triggers, navigate interruptions in everyday living, and develop the tools to deal with any stressful situation going forward, increasing their strength and resilience. Call Dr. Piper Walsh today to learn more about way to help support a loved one dealing with trauma.