The Connection Between Chronic Trauma and Complicated Grief
If you have led a difficult life with chronic trauma and complicated grief, you understand how it follow you throughout your life. The negative effects of chronic trauma can be lifelong. It can be difficult to heal and release the feelings and emotions associated with these traumas.
Grief is a natural response to the loss of someone or something that you love. It is a complex and intensely personal experience. It can affect you in many different ways. Grief can be overwhelming and difficult to manage.
Most people associate grief, or grieving, with the feelings after a loved one has passed. But, did you know you know there is also a term called complicated grief? If you have lived a very difficult life, or experienced chronic trauma, this may be something you have experienced.
This post will explore the connection between chronic trauma and complicated grief. This is a difficult and complicated experience. After reading this post, my hope is you will have a better understanding of this topic. And learn the tools to use to help you transform your life to achieve personal growth.
What is Chronic Trauma?
Chronic trauma is caused by exposure to traumatic events that occur over a period of time. These would be situations like abuse, neglect, homelessness, and violence that happen over and over again. Symptoms of chronic trauma may include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and difficulty managing emotions. It can also lead to physical symptoms like headaches, fatigue, chronic pain, and so on. Treatment for chronic trauma often involves both psychological and medical therapies. These treatments will help determine the underlying causes of the trauma, and the symptoms that happen because of it.
What is Complicated Grief and Who Does It Affect?
Complicated grief is an intense and prolonged form of grief. It can be experienced after the death of a loved one. However, a loved one’s passing is not the only time complicated grief can manifest itself in your life.
If you have lived a life where you have been the victim of chronic trauma, you may be experiencing complicated grief and not even known it. Painful emotions associated with trauma are so long lasting and severe that you find it difficult to recover. These deep emotions follow you throughout your life. You may find it difficult to release these old wounds and move past the traumatic experiences.
Complicated grief can be experienced by anyone. It is especially common among people who have experienced a sudden or traumatic death of their loved one. But, as stated above, it can also affect those who have experienced chronic trauma. It can have an overwhelming impact on a person’s life. This can make it hard to cope with day to day tasks.
It is important to recognize the signs and symptoms of complicated grief in order to seek out the help you need to cope with your emotions in healthy ways.
Signs and Symptoms of Complicated Grief
Complicated grief can show up as intense and persistent feelings and emotions you are unable to release. Some of these feelings may include:
- sadness
- guilt
- anger
- despair
- anxiety
- depression
- loss
- difficulty focusing
- weight gain/loss
- chronic/unexplained pain
- difficulty holding a job
- insomnia
- physical body symptoms
- lack of joy
- shame
- lack of motivation
- trust issues
These are just some examples of the ways chronic grief can show up in your life. You may also experience brain fog, avoidance, and even addiction.
Causes of Complicated Grief
There is no known cause of complicated grief. It is usually triggered by a loss or traumatic events. There are some risk factors that can contribute to the causes of complicated grief. These risk factors are:
- your environment
- your personality
- inherited traits
- history of mental health disorder
- your biological and chemical makeup
- traumatic death of a loved one
- lack of support system in place
- multiple losses in a short time
- pessimistic or negative personality type
These risk factors are not the cause of complicated grief. However, they can contribute to the onset of symptoms.
Strategies for Coping With Complicated Grief Caused By Chronic Trauma
Coping with complicated grief can be a difficult and overwhelming experience. It is important to remember that everyone grieves differently. There is no one “right way” to deal with the symptoms of complicated grief. However, there are some strategies that can help you cope with your grief in a healthy way.
1. Support from family and friends
Having a strong support system is critical for your well-being. It is so important to have family and friends who are there for you. This is especially true in difficult times. These people can provide you with the emotional support you need when times get tough. From offering advice to being a shoulder to cry on, family and friends can make a big difference to our healing. Sometimes just having someone to listen to you have difficult conversations can be critical. When you have a strong support system, you feel you can handle any challenge that comes your way.
2. Self-care activities
Self-care is an important part of your mental and physical health. It allows you to focus on yourself for a while, physically and mentally. Self-care activities can be physical activities like exercise or dance. It can also include mental activities such as reading or creating art. No matter what type of self-care activity you choose, it’s important to make time for yourself. Developing a self-care routine can help reduce your stress level, boost your moods, and improve your overall health.
3. Moving your body
Moving your body is one of the best things you can do for your body, mind, and soul. It has the benefit of keeping you fit and strong. Staying active allows you to release stress, clear your mind, and boost your mood. Physical activity can improve your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Try a quick walk around the block, hot yoga, or an intense workout session at the gym. Moving your body has numerous benefits that will help to improve your mood and reduce anxiety.
4. Journaling
Journaling is a powerful tool for self-reflection and personal growth. It can help you gain insight and clarity into your thoughts and feelings. It’s also a great way to track your progress over time. When you write down your thoughts and experiences, you can better understand your inner self. This can lead you to make positive changes in your life.
Journaling is also an effective way to manage stress, boost creativity, and increase productivity. When you write out your thoughts and feelings, you are able to release them from your mind. This process is very helpful when you want to let go of deep trauma you have been carrying with you for a long time. Journaling can be used for self-exploration or goal setting. A regular journaling practice can help you live a more meaningful life.
5. Hobbies
Hobbies provide you with an outlet to express yourself and have fun. From gardening to gaming, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Hobbies can provide you with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. They can also help you to build relationships with others who share your interests. And hobbies can reduce stress and boost creativity. If you are looking to explore new interests or passion, hobbies are a perfect choice. Hobbies are an excellent way to make the most of your free time and have fun.
6. Meditation
Meditation has been around for centuries. It is a practice to help you reduce stress, improve focus and clarity, and increase your overall wellbeing. By taking time out of your day to meditate, you can experience a range of physical and mental benefits. Through meditation, you can learn to be more mindful. It can also help you to be more conscious of your thoughts, feelings, and environment. This can help you to live a more peaceful life with less stress and anxiety.
The great thing about meditation is it can be done anywhere and anytime. By taking a few moments each day to sit in silence and focus on your breath, you can develop a strong sense of self-awareness. This awareness helps you to gain clarity on your life’s purpose. It also brings inner peace and joy. With regular meditation practice, you can create a greater sense of self-awareness that helps us make better decisions in life.
7. Reiki and energy work
Reiki and energy work is an ancient practice that has been used for centuries to promote healing and alignment. Practitioners use their hands to channel universal life force energy into a person’s body while they are in a relaxed state. This allows the recipient to access deeper levels of awareness and open up pathways for healing on a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual level. They can also access to their own natural healing abilities. Reiki can be used to reduce stress, alleviate physical pain, improve mental clarity and emotional balance, and even boost spiritual growth.
Reiki is a great way to restore balance in the body and mind. Energy work can also be used to clear blockages in the body’s energetic system. This allows for greater flow and balance of life force energy throughout the entire being. With regular practice, reiki and energy work can help you achieve greater balance and harmony within yourself, as well as in your relationships with others.
8. Spiritual healing
Spiritual healing is an ancient practice that has been used by people for centuries to help heal physical, emotional, and spiritual ailments. It involves using a variety of techniques such as meditation, breathing exercises, chakra balancing, visualization, and affirmations. By connecting to a higher power or energy source, spiritual healing can provide relief from pain, stress and anxiety.
Spiritual healing can also be a powerful tool for self-discovery and personal growth. It allows you to explore your innermost thoughts and feelings in order to gain insight into your life. These techniques are believed to help restore balance and harmony in the body by removing blockages in the energy field. Through this process of exploration and discovery, it is possible to find peace within yourself and create a more positive outlook on life.
9. Holistic mind-body therapy
Holistic mind body therapy is a powerful approach to healing and wellness. It focuses on the connection between the mind, body, emotions, and spirit. This approach is based on the belief that your physical and emotional health are intertwined. It is a holistic approach that specializes in treating all aspects of the body in order to reach the best health. This type of therapy can be used to treat physical ailments such as chronic pain or stress-related disorders. It can also be used to address mental health issues such as depression or anxiety.
This type of therapy can help you manage your stress levels, and promote overall balance in your life. By combining traditional therapies with alternative treatments such as yoga, meditation, acupuncture, massage therapy, and other holistic practices, this type of therapy can provide an effective way for you to take action to better your health and wellness.
10. Professional help
Professional help can make all the difference when it comes to managing complicated grief. Seeking the help of professionals can help you find solutions that might otherwise seem impossible. Professional help can come in many forms. From traditional therapy and counseling, to a social worker or psychologist, no matter what kind of help you need, there is likely a professional who can provide it. By seeking out the right kind of assistance, you can be sure that your problems are addressed in a safe and effective way. And that you find the help you really need.
If you feel you need to speak with someone immediately, you can contact SAMHSA’s national helpline. SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. The number is 1-800-662-HELP(4357).
This list shows with the right coping strategies, you can find ways to manage your complicated grief in a healthy, positive way.
Final thoughts on Chronic Trauma and Complicated Grief
Chronic trauma and complicated grief is serious and debilitating. It can have long-term effects on an individual’s life. It is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of complicated grief so you can end your suffering and receive the help you need. If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms for an extended period of time, it may be necessary to seek professional help.
With patience, support, and understanding, it is possible to work through complicated grief. Since everyone experiences grief differently, it’s important to find the right kind of help for your specific situation. You may find only one of these strategies helpful. Or you may feel a combination of a few of them work best. I hope you found some useful information you can use in your own life!
Do you have any strategies to help with complicated grief? Please share them below. We learn best when we learn from each other!
