When you find yourself emotionally hitting brick walls you may want to consider getting professional help for your trauma issues. This can be extensive therapy, groups, or various resources that are now readily available. Suffering needlessly is not wise. 

As a certified health coach, I have learned my limits. This is one of them. I can tell you about my experiences and what I have heard and learned from others walking through trauma but there are limits to what I can help a person through. Health coaches are great at tips, tricks, insight, and even science-based recommendations but are not trained as extensively as one might need for on-going trauma issues.

After spending years in therapy myself when I was young, I realize that there are times when we need it. There are also times when we have told our story so many times that it is not beneficial. It can feel like re-traumatization. That is not healthy.

You will have to determine where you are in this process. If you have never received professional help it may be useful. Yet finding the right mental health care professional can be tricky. When it is the wrong one for you, it can do more damage than good.

I will use myself as an example. I personally have beat the counselor/therapist issue to death. I was about 11-12 years old when my parents first took me. Back then Lyme Disease was not on anyone’s radar so a counselors office is where I landed after the hospitals and doctors could not figure out my physical problems. I did not begin to have the ability to articulate what was wrong. No one to blame, Lyme did not have the support it has now.

There was a point when it was no longer useful to me. I needed to get my bearings and get on with life. That was fine until this last Lyme Disease health crash. I refused counseling but I have realized that trauma was deeply affecting my recovery from Lyme. I was offered NADA treatments which are specific for PTSD. That worked wonders for me.

Everyone is different. Everyone has their reasons for their choices. If you have never tried counseling before and you find yourself struggling with trauma, trying it is an option. If you have been through massive therapy before and telling your story again adds trauma, try something different. Do what is best for you. Just don’t suffer needlessly alone.

I love research and learning about things and how they affect humans. I find that some of my healing has come from simply learning about trauma and its effects, especially when one is dealing with chronic illness. When I read others stories, I know I am not alone in this. When I read scientific research showing the effects trauma has on humans, I do not feel like I must be crazy.

Trauma deeply effects chronic illness. You are not alone and you are not crazy.

Resources for professional help with trauma

  • NADA is what I used for an extended period of time while I was healing from chronic illness. It is used for PTSD.
  • ACE’s are Adverse Childhood Events – I have heard Niki speak numerous times and have learned much from her. She specializes in ACE’s and trauma. – Niki Gratrix on ACE’s
  • I have heard that EMDR is a great way to deal with past trauma – EMDR
  • I have heard that Recall Healing works well – Recall Healing by Gilbert Renaud

Find the help that you need. Finding quality help is essential. If you do not have anyone local, find a psychologist that does Skype or phone appointments.

Recently I have been reading a blog by a psychologist that has tremendous psychological practical insight.  Eric Perry, Ph.D.D – Make It Ultra Psychology 

Your mental health is important to your well being. Are you taking good care of your mental health?

Maribeth Baxter, MBEC

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Donations are accepted to serve others on their chronic illness journey. Maribeth Baxter, MBEC provides voluntary certified health coaching services to the financially limited during their time of crisis.

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