By definition, a traumatic event is something that happened to you in the past. It could have been last week, last year, or a few decades ago. However, such episodes can wound deeply and therefore keep the emotions feeling fresh and new.

This happens on both a psychological and physiological level. As a result, you may feel trapped in the past even as you strive to heal and create a better future. The key to trauma recovery can be found in a word that does not appear in the above sentences: present. Trauma recovery happens in the here and now.

How Trauma Can Skew Your Sense of Time

A traumatic event has the potential to alter your brain chemistry. Without getting too technical, it often has to do with the regulation of stress hormones. Left elevated, such chemicals can keep you locked into a state of hyper-vigilance. You see threats all around you. Your memory works to keep threats from the pasts as appearing as though they exist in the here and now.

This underlying scenario pushes victims to identify with their trauma. As you may already sense, you can end up being defined by the experience and the resulting pain. You feel as if you’ll never recover as you remain stuck in a past perception of yourself and your potential. Too often, it leads you onto a path toward post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

8 Strategies for Staying Present During Trauma Recovery

1. Choose Self-Education

Learn as much as possible about your general condition and specific details. In addition, educate yourself about mindfulness and staying present. Misinformation is never your friend.

2. Maintain Patience

Recovering from trauma takes time. Developing the ability to stay present in a world of distraction also takes time. Do not rush yourself or set hasty timelines.

3. Team Up With Others

It may be a trauma recovery group. It may also be a group meditation class. The idea is to connect, learn, and grow with others during this process.

4. Embrace a Beginner’s Mind

In the PTSD mind, you feel like you’ve tried it all and nothing will work. In the beginner’s mind, you’re open to new possibilities and approaches.

5. Practice Observation Without Judgment

Particularly through meditation practice, staying present guides you to a place of experiencing with feeling the need to compare or compete. This is an ideal state for healing and recovery.

6. Accept the Process

Both goals may not be “goals” in a strict sense. Healing from trauma and learning to stay present are journeys. It’s not about arriving at a destination; it’s an ongoing process.

7. Keep a Journal

It is essential to have a barometer of progress. Monitoring your efforts and your evolution is an ideal way to maintain momentum. Your journal will also be very useful when speaking with a counselor (see below).

8. Take Care of Yourself

Through it all, be sure to stay present with your commitment to daily self-care. This usually involves a focus on eating, sleeping, and activity habits. Also, seek out ways to de-stress and recharge.

Getting Help With Both Trauma Recovery and Staying Present

These can be two daunting tasks — each in its own way. While trauma recovery is a goal that requires some professional guidance, staying present is not typically viewed in the same manner. Guess what? Neither is easy when attempted alone.

Committing to weekly therapy sessions is a proven method for getting on the parallel tracks of healing and mindfulness. You’ll have a trusted ally with whom you can brainstorm and explore. To learn more about this life-changing and often a life-saving process, read more about trauma therapy and reach out today for a free consultation.