Processing Trauma: Finding Healing After Pain

Trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience. Sometimes it's the result of a single event; other times it builds from a series of experiences that overwhelm your nervous system. However it came to you, the pain is real — and so is the possibility of healing. Don't be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering (1 Peter 4:12).

How You Might Respond to Trauma

Most people respond to the immediate impact of a traumatic event in one of three ways:

• Fight — defending yourself, directly confronting the threat
• Flight — retreating from the threat as quickly as possible
• Freeze — feeling unable to process, cope, or make decisions

Trauma touches every part of who you are: your thoughts, your emotions, your body, your relationships, and your spirit.

Healthy Ways to Move Toward Healing

Everyone faces trauma at some point. When you're ready to begin healing, God will walk that road with you. A few things that help:

• Talk with a Christian counselor
• Get plenty of rest
• Practice good self-care
• Move your body
• Pray
• Build a solid support system
• Journal your feelings
• Hold off on big decisions for now

What God Says Over You

When trauma shakes you, God's Word steadies you:

• Do not fear (Isaiah 41:10)
• You live in a fallen world (Romans 5:12)
• What He allows, He will redeem (Romans 8:28)
• You are not alone (Isaiah 41:13)
• He will never leave you (Deuteronomy 31:8)

You don't have to carry this by yourself. When you're ready, our care team can connect you with a counselor, and our Support Groups offer a safe, confidential place to heal alongside others.