A New Approach to Trauma Recovery

When we experience trauma, our entire being can be affected. The results can range from physical injuries to emotional wounds and even deeper. So despite the common and misinformed adage that time heals all wounds, we need to proactively heal from trauma on every level of the body that was injured. This can be more complicated than it sounds.

Often the physical injuries heal well on their own with reasonable first aid and medical care. Much of the psychological wounds can also heal with appropriate therapy. But, what happens when the physical injuries don’t heal normally? And, what if weeks and months of therapy pass without significant mental and emotional relief?

What’s missing in this common treatment plan for trauma survivors is addressing the deeper wounds that very often accompany such tragedies. These deeper wounds, while unseen, can short circuit our bodies’ natural healing processes, causing prolonged physical and psychological difficulties, such as injuries that don't heal well and symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress (PTS).

For deeper wounds, we need to work under the surface at the subconscious level. This is where we hold the majority of our traumatic injuries. When someone experiences Post Traumatic Stress, it happens here, in the subconscious. It sends a myriad of signals up the path to the conscious mind and the body to warn of the perceived danger. To resolve this trauma cascade, we need to treat trauma where it lives in order to resolve it.

Traditional talk therapy works on the cognitive level and often takes years of skilled efforts to reach the depths of the subconscious where the core wound actually resides. In one sense, trying to heal a subconscious trauma wound solely with talk therapy is akin to asking for directions in China by speaking French. Communication would be very limited, so accomplishing specific tasks end up being delayed or even ineffective. We need a different language, per se, for this kind of healing.

To truly heal our traumas, we need a new approach. We need to communicate with these subconscious wounds through the language of intention. Intention activates effective communication with the subconscious. You can find this type of communication in hypnotherapy, acupuncture, focused meditations, and other healing modalities that work under the surface.

Just as you would speak kindly and softly to a toddler who is playing with a sharp object in order to retrieve it safely, we can communicate with the subconscious in a way that reprograms its perceptions of a traumatic experience without constantly triggering it. We can disarm the landmines that send up the alarms by restoring these programs back to their original interpretations.

We do this through the Life Above the Line healing techniques. This simple process requires focused intention on one particular expression of the trauma at a time. In the mindset of desiring to heal, believing it’s possible, and willingness to let go of the wounds (you may be surprised that this can be difficult at times), we can begin resolving trauma with a deep breath. The technique can be repeated several times to help heal each discomfort. When one symptom is eased, the next one can be addressed, and so on.

Note: An important factor to remember in this type of trauma recovery is that at no time do we need to consciously relive the traumatic event. That approach often reinforces the conscious distress, retraumatizes the survivor, and compounds the traumatic wounds. We only need to acknowledge that it exists, identify specific symptoms to resolve, and recognize helpful lessons that can be learned from the experience.

To facilitate and amplify the effects of the healing techniques, we can use pure essential oils, email us to find out our favorite brand. The chemistry and vibration of high quality essential oils can work with the body to loosen its grip on the emotional and subconscious wounds left from trauma. They complement the healing work by easing resistance to healing, increasing feelings of safety and willingness to heal, and building confidence to face the distress.

Owing to the fact that everyone’s experience with trauma is unique to them, it can be difficult to generally recommend specific essential oils to support the process. However, because of their nature, there really isn’t an essential oil that wouldn’t be helpful in some way because they all help the body function better in some way. If there were particular oils that you’re drawn to or that help you feel safe, calm, or empowered, they could be a great support on your healing journey. Also, there are helpful resources such as the Essential Emotions book for additional insights and recommendations of particular emotional burdens.

When we approach trauma recovery with a truly holistic perspective, we find greater success with an individual’s healing. We are better able to attend to the wounds on every level of the body and therefore facilitate more comprehensive and lasting recovery.