It’s hard to believe that we’re still dealing with racial trauma in the 21st century. But, the reality is that, though it lay dormant in the consciousness of large swaths of the country, it’s still just as widespread as ever. 

Racial trauma can come directly from someone else (or a group of people), from an experience, or even from watching the news. Experiencing or seeing a racial bias displayed can be disturbing or distressing. 

Unfortunately, experiencing any kind of racial trauma can have an impact on your relationships, your career, and your everyday quality of life. If you’ve been through a racially-traumatic experience, it isn’t difficult to become triggered. Anything from an offhanded comment to seeing something like police violence against a person of color on the news is enough. 

In this year, when it seems the topic of race and equality has jumped into the national again, it’s important to understand that racial trauma is real. If you’ve experienced it, you’re not alone. You’re a survivor.

Thankfully, there are ways for you to find peace and comfort. 

Find the Support You Need

One of the best things you can do to combat the personal impact of racial trauma is to do what you can to feel supported. 

You can find that support from family or friends, of course. But, it may be more beneficial to get involved in a community that understands and validates racial trauma. That might include a support group specifically meant for survivors. Or, just opening communication with someone in your life who might understand what you’re going through could be helpful. 

Additionally, it’s a good idea to avoid relationships or interactions with people who create or promote triggering experiences for you. Conversely, avoid contact with people who don’t take racial trauma seriously. That could even include members of your own loved ones or certain circles of friends.

Even if you can’t evade those situations completely, restrict your interaction with those individuals if they cause you distress. 

Limiting Your Triggers

People in your life can certainly be triggering due to their thoughts on racial trauma. However, other aspects can trigger your trauma symptoms, too. Therefore, it’s important to understand your triggers well.

What makes your symptoms worse? What causes you to flashback to that time of initial trauma? It’s not always easy to think about, and you may want to avoid figuring out your triggers. But, it’s an important step to take. 

The more you understand your triggers, the easier it is to work on avoiding and resolving them. For example, for some victims of racial trauma, going on a media “diet” to avoid images of racial abuse or mistreatment is an important emotional guardrail. 

Take Part in Activism

If you’ve been through a traumatic experience because of race, one way to find some peace is to try to challenge racism. 

Join different groups or organizations that promote racial equality. Become an activist or an advocate. Share your voice. Share your story. You’re not the only one who has endured racial trauma. You’re not the only one who longs for change.

By speaking up and standing out, you never know who you might encourage or empower along the way. 

Also, when you’re part of a group that speaks out against racism and promotes equality, you empower yourself. You allow yourself to grow stronger, despite your trauma, which can further aid your road to recovery. 

Seeking Help When You Needed It

As with any other type of trauma, you don’t have to suffer the effects of racial trauma on your own. In many cases, work with a mental health professional is the best option. 

A therapist or counselor can help you to identify the root of your trauma and its impacts on your thoughts and behaviors. You’ll receive resources on how to work through traumatic events and process them productively. You will see that your trauma doesn’t have to define you.  From there, you can develop the coping skills needed to best manage the realities of life in a racialized society. 

If you’ve experienced any type of racial trauma, please feel free to contact me for more information on trauma treatment. Together, we can work on even more ways to help you find peace, so you can encourage others to do the same.