What's the best way to cope with trauma that stems from emotional abuse?

Trauma is a dysregulation of the nervous system. It rewires our brains to be in a state of survival.

In order to learn how to cope with trauma, you need to know the signs of it. This may include dissociation, insomnia, racing heartbeat, intrusive thoughts, nightmares, anxiety in addition to feelings of guilt, shame, hopelessness, confusion, and fear. Listen to your body and mind and see what symptoms come up for you. Some tactical coping mechanisms may include mindfulness, breathing exercises, and/or grounding exercises. I often encourage my clients who have a history of abuse to utilize creative outlets if it feels appropriate to them.

At the end of the day, there is no “cookie cutter” method in coping with abuse. In fact, so much of the healing process involves gaining awareness in your own self and how the abuse has impacted you. Emotional abuse often makes individuals doubt themselves; it makes them feel isolated, helpless, and powerless. Knowing what emotional abuse is and recognizing emotional abuse can help you pick up on patterns of it in your own personal history. In doing so, you can begin to take control of your own narrative. As you become more grounded in your own reality, worth, value, and self esteem, you empower yourself.

When you are ready to surround yourself with individuals who can support you and validate your experience. Lean into your support network. Participate in a group. Connect with a mental professional. You are not alone.

Kathryn Lee

What's the best way to cope with trauma that stems from emotional abuse?

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