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What Makes Trauma Different From Everything

Most mental health advice about trauma recovery is dead wrong - especially when it comes to PTSD recovery. Traditional therapy approaches push you to revisit your pain before you’re ready, which can actually make PTSD symptoms worse, not better. The problem isn’t that your brain is broken—it’s that it’s protecting you from something real that happened.


Over the last decade, I’ve worked with people carrying the weight of unimaginable pain, and I’ve seen them reclaim their lives. I’ve also walked my own road through severe depression and I know how impossible healing can feel when you’re right in the middle of it. But I also know that recovery isn’t about being "tough" or rushing to fix everything. It’s about giving yourself the right tools, the right support, and the time you need to find your footing again.


5 Essential Rules to Help Trauma Recovery


I’ve discovered five essential rules that truly help people heal. These aren’t quick fixes or generic coping strategies; they’re practical, compassionate approaches that work because they honor your brain’s need for safety and stability.


  1. Don’t Open the Box Too Soon


One of the biggest mistakes people make in trauma recovery is rushing to “face” their pain. Your mind locks away traumatic experiences for a reason: it’s a form of protection. When you’re not ready, forcing yourself—or being forced by someone else—to confront those memories can leave you feeling overwhelmed, destabilized, and worse off than before.


True healing doesn’t come from tearing open old wounds. It comes from knowing when it’s safe to start unpacking what you’ve been through and making sure you have the tools to handle what comes up. That’s why working with a trauma-trained therapist is so important. Not every therapist understands how trauma impacts the nervous system, and rushing into the wrong kind of therapy can do more harm than good.


  1. Let Your Wounds Heal


Another common trap is the urge to revisit what hurt you, even unintentionally. Maybe you find yourself drawn to media that mirrors your trauma or holding onto objects or reminders of painful memories. It’s not your fault; there’s something about revisiting the familiar that feels strangely comforting, even when it’s hurting you.


But healing means stepping back from what triggers you. It doesn’t mean ignoring your pain—it means creating the space your mind and body need to recover. Like a wound on your skin, emotional wounds need time and care to heal without constant interference.


  1. Stay in the Present Moment

When you’ve been through trauma, your brain often struggles to differentiate between the past and the present. Trauma memories live in a part of the brain that doesn’t recognize time—it can make old events feel like they’re happening all over again.


One of the most powerful tools for healing is learning how to stay grounded in the present. Keeping your mind engaged in tasks that require focus, like reading, solving puzzles, or even learning something new, can help you anchor yourself in the here and now. This prevents your brain from slipping back into the past and triggering unnecessary pain.


  1. Reclaim Your Life with New Memories


Trauma often makes your world feel smaller. It convinces you that avoiding new experiences is the only way to stay safe. While it’s natural to retreat for a while, staying in that place for too long can leave your trauma feeling like the last significant thing that ever happened to you.


Healing isn’t about erasing what you’ve been through. It’s about reclaiming your life—one small, meaningful step at a time. Try something new, something that doesn’t remind you of the past. Over time, these new experiences can help you rebuild a life where your trauma is part of your story, but not the whole story.


  1. Avoid Low Power Mode


Your brain and body need resources to heal. When you neglect basics like sleep, nutrition, physical activity, or you rely too heavily on substances, you deplete the energy your mind needs to recover.


Think of your brain like a wounded animal—it needs rest, care, and nourishment to heal. Skipping meals, neglecting sleep, or letting stress spiral out of control leaves your brain vulnerable, making it harder to regulate your emotions and differentiate the past from the present. Taking care of yourself isn’t optional when it comes to trauma recovery. It’s the foundation of your healing.


I have talked more about it in the video below on how to recover from trauma without constantly reopening old wounds. My proven approach focuses on helping you reclaim your sense of safety and build a life where your past no longer controls your present.



-Scott

 

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