The Power of Mindfulness When Healing from Trauma

Mindfulness can often feel like a buzzword but it’s so much more than that. It’s actually a centuries-old practice that has gained popularity due to its effectiveness.

Simply put, mindfulness is the practice of staying grounded in the moment. You can’t control the thoughts that enter your mind, but you can control how you choose to respond. As you practice mindfulness, you’ll learn to let negative thoughts pass you by, like clouds you can’t hold onto. You’ll learn to let go of the “what ifs” and start focusing on the present.

If you’re trying to heal from trauma, mindfulness should absolutely be included on your journey. While it doesn’t replace the professional help you deserve to help you navigate your healing journey, it’s a component that can make that journey easier.

Let’s take a closer look at the power of mindfulness in healing from trauma and how you can incorporate it into your daily routine.

Improved Awareness

Everyone deals with different trauma responses. However, it’s not uncommon for those who have experienced trauma or those with PTSD to exhibit avoidance behaviors. It can feel easier to “ignore” the thoughts, feelings, and even the situations that trigger difficult memories.

This minimization might seem like a good defense mechanism, but it isn’t sustainable. Emotions demand to be felt.

As you practice mindfulness, you’ll be able to reintroduce those thoughts gently and gradually; acknowledging what happened to you, while decreasing the related distress, is an important step toward truly healing.

In that way, mindfulness helps to increase your overall self-awareness. Exercises like deep breathing can give you more control over your responses to things that typically trigger you. When you improve your awareness and self-regulation, you’ll understand that you have more power over your trauma than you initially thought.

Self-Compassion and Resilience

It’s not uncommon for people who have experienced trauma to feel shame and guilt. Even if you had nothing to do with the event, you might blame yourself and struggle with those feelings for years.

Mindfulness can help you foster a more accepting attitude toward yourself and your emotions. As you start to accept your emotions and what happened to you, you’re likely to treat yourself with more compassion and kindness.

This attitude helps to build resilience. There’s no denying that healing from trauma comes with many challenges, and resilience is essential when it comes to moving forward. Think of how you might treat a friend struggling with the effects of trauma. Mindfulness will encourage you to treat yourself with that same kindness, so you have the strength to continue healing.

Finding Freedom From Trauma

Mindfulness is an invaluable practice to incorporate into your healing journey. However, it’s just that — a practice. It takes time to become accustomed to mindfulness exercises including deep breathing exercises, body scans, or mindful movement. Once you allow yourself to be comfortable in that space and fully commit to grounding yourself, you’re likely to see the positive impact of mindfulness.

Remember that mindfulness is only one component of a positive healing journey; working with a professional in a therapeutic setting can also make a big difference. Not only will you learn even more effective mindfulness techniques, but you’ll foster healthy and effective skills to help you cope with the impact of your trauma.

If you’re interested in learning more about the effects of mindfulness and how to incorporate it in your life, FTC is here to help!