If you are a sexual trauma survivor divorce can amplify all your fears and bury you beneath overwhelm.
When you are drowning underneath the heartache and pain of divorce, it can scarcely feel like there is anything but oceans and waves of guilt, shame, pain, rejection, loneliness, anger, and the many other emotions that accompany the process.
Divorce is a process, but it can be hard to properly cycle through the process onto healing when there is sexual trauma involved…or ANY trauma for that matter!
Trauma weighs you down like an invisible elephant, making it hard to breathe, hard to think, and notoriously hard to move forward. And yes, it is typical for divorce to trigger the trauma you suffered in the past.
When this happens, all your emotions are amplified many times over. You are even more forgetful, dazed, listless, sensitive, disconnected, and possibly even suicidal. Your emotions are valid! Whatever you are feeling is valid and it is critically important that you find a safe space to let these out.
Holding onto unhealthy emotions can result in addictions, making your former problem even worse!
There are 3 things that you must do when you feel overwhelmed by your emotions after divorce and trauma. 1. RELEASE 2. RELEASE 3. RELEASE
1. Release the Emotion
Stop right where you are and BREATHE! Inhale slowly to the count of four while focusing on something calming like the sky, the beach, the flame in a candle, or some beautiful scenery. Exhale slowly to the count of six. Repeat as needed. You are creating your own sense of calm and stability right where you are. Repeat every time you feel triggered.
2. Release the Trauma from Your Body
Trauma and other negative emotions get stuck in our body, so it is necessary to exercise so you can release pent-up trauma. Take a brisk 30-minute walk regularly. Your lunch break is an excellent opportunity. Or you can try a dance class or one of the many varieties of yoga. Choose something that is enjoyable to you that you can stick to. If it is rewarding, you are more likely to continue and form a good habit.
3. Release the Trauma from Your Mind
Journaling is a safe way to release the trauma buried in your mind. Sometimes you may just feel heaviness and not know what to write. You don’t have to know exactly what to write, just write randomly and whatever you need to release will eventually spill out onto the pages.
I hope this article was helpful and informative. Best wishes in your recovery journey!
At Exhilarated Life, LLC, we know the traumatizing pain of divorce and of having to start life over and we can help! We specialize in helping people like YOU bounce back POWERFULLY from divorce through our Release, Resolve & Rejuvenate Program. Spots are very limited! Book a complimentary call at https://exhaled-life.coach/.
Reclaim YOUR power! Thrive with an Exhilarated Life!
Your trusted divorce & trauma recovery coach,
Alberta D. Jordan, MHA, CPC
Bestselling Author, Speaker, Certified Coach
EXHILARATED LIFE, LLC
Website: https://exhaled-life.coach/
Book: https://exhaled-life.coach/book/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExhilaratedLifeLLC/
Alberta is a dynamic divorce recovery coach who helps individuals navigate life post-divorce. She is the CEO of Exhilarated Life, LLC. The specialized programs at Exhilarated Life guide and empower trauma survivors post-divorce so that they can bounce back POWERFULLY, CONFIDENTLY, WHOLE, and MORE PURPOSEFULLY.
Alberta had been coaching some 20+ years before deciding to solely focus on trauma survivors. Alberta states, “I have lived through trauma. I am living my best life now and I want to help you do the same!”
