Healing from Trauma
We grow up in a world where trauma, drama, and violence are often normalized—so much so that most of us never realize the impact they have on us. The things we experience are silenced, covered up, and forgotten so we don’t see them for what they are. Yet trauma weaves its way into the deep recesses of our bodies and minds. It takes up space and wreaks havoc like a hidden computer virus until one day, things are a mess.
About six years ago, I was having trouble sleeping. In fact, I felt terror at nighttime. I would hear strange noises, think someone was entering my house, and was scared to fall asleep. These sleepless nights went on for a few weeks. It got so bad that one night I slept in my closet because the small space and the extra door of protection made me feel safer. When I woke in the morning on the closet floor, I knew my life was out of control and something was really wrong.
I had never experienced this before. I was always such a great sleeper. Why was I feeling scared, threatened, insecure, helpless, and fearful? And why was I feeling anger, resentment, and sadness at the same time?
In the midst of the pain, we must not simply remove trauma but replace it with new, soul-enriching moments.
Shortly before this incident, I became a certified Q coach in the Quantum Living Process, which is an integrated, cognitive shadow-work practice that weaves together the latest research in various scientific fields and wisdom traditions. It teaches that what you are going through is always the result of something deeper, usually rooted in the past. The process involves a worksheet that takes you through a methodical process to explore your trigger and create a new story for healing.
Through the Q process, I uncovered feelings connected to a traumatic incident I had buried so deeply that I had forgotten it. When I was 18 years old, I was involved in a drive-by shooting. I was sitting outside when a young boy next door was shot. The only thing I clearly remember is being crouched over his profusely bleeding body when the ambulance arrived and the EMT workers slowly got out, laughing and talking jovially. I remember feeling rage at their taking the situation lightly. They moved the boy’s body onto the stretcher carelessly and roughly. I clearly remember crying in anger and yelling at them that this was a person, not a piece of meat. There was anger and pain all woven together in this tapestry of trauma. I don’t remember what happened after that. I only know that boy died, and I never spoke of the incident again with anyone.
Uncovering Unprocessed Trauma
My terror at night was a response to unprocessed trauma. There had been a recent epidemic of young men being killed in Chicago gun violence that created the perfect storm to surface my old pain. I had, in fact, attended the funeral of one of those young men killed. With the support of my Q coach, I was able to understand the trigger, grieve, and reprocess the story to create freedom in my life, and I was able to sleep soundly again.
The body and mind are a mystery. Healing shows up at the strangest times and in the strangest ways. When you are going through unexplained illness, depression, fear, or any other physical or mental manifestation, it oftentimes brings an opportunity to go deeper. The road to healing can be slow, difficult, and confusing, as all is being revealed for your greatness and highest good. New Thought teacher Emma Curtis Hopkins reminds us, “This too is good, this too is God, this too is for me, and I demand to see the blessing.”
I encourage you to have patience and faith mixed with a deep dose of courage and boldness. Happy healing, beloved!
Practice
First, get support—people, professionals, or organizations. Second, be willing to get out of your comfort zone to try something new. Here are some ideas:
Find a process to go deeper such as the Quantum Living Process, EMDR therapy, cognitive therapy, or other talk therapy.
Engage in bodywork to help reset your nervous system. There are therapies such as body somatic therapy, EFT (tapping), intuitive chiropractic care, trauma-informed massage or yoga, and cranial sacral massage.
Explore ancient Eastern practices such as acupuncture, Reiki, qigong, and yoga nidra as powerful tools to restore harmony.
Experiment with ancient, indigenous healing wisdom with practices such as sweat lodges and fire, cacao, or plant medicine ceremonies. I have found all of these practices to offer a profound portal of transformation.
Allow for radical joy. In the midst of the pain, we must not simply remove trauma but replace it with new, soul-enriching moments. Go to a comedy show, play in the dirt, dance like nobody is watching, or sing at the top of your lungs to a favorite empowerment song. Engage the senses to build new patterns of bliss. Have fun while healing!
This article first appeared in the Unity booklet Healing a Thousand Different Ways.