A few weeks ago, I experienced a traumatic incident. I can’t go in to detail, but the jest of it is that myself and a couple of my friends helped save a life. I gave CPR for the first time. Everything turned out fine, the individual is okay. I was not. I was traumatized. I was having flashbacks, I was nervous and anxious and constantly on edge. I kept seeing their face and hearing the noises of that event. I didn’t understand why – everything had turned out okay!
So, I put into practice something that LIFE Leadership taught me: “Find someone who has what you want, and then copy what they did to get it.”
I spoke to my cousin who is in school for nursing, I spoke to my best friend who was in the service, and my friend who was a paramedic during 9/11. I asked them how to work through this, because I know that my normal way of just putting it in a box on the shelf to deal with later, isn’t healthy.
The responses that I received came down to this:
- Give yourself time, and patience.
- Pray
- Talk about it with someone you trust
- Practice stress relieving exercises (personal to you)
Giving myself time was probably the hardest part for me. I am a fairly logical person, so for me to be upset by something that turned out well – annoyed me. However, I wouldn’t judge someone else for having a hard time with the same situation I went through – so I had to stop judging myself.
Prayer is basically second nature to me. I thanked God that everything turned out okay, I prayed for everyone’s safety. But when my cousin said to pray – it made me realize that I hadn’t asked God for help healing and growing from this situation.
I don’t like to think of myself as someone who seeks attention. But after this incident, I kept feeling this burning need for someone to tell me that I did good, that they were proud of me. And they did. There wasn’t one person who knew about the situation that didn’t reassure me – and yet – I still have that deep burning need to hear it. Why? Until I was talking about it to my mom, that is when it occurred to me that I hadn’t told myself that I did well.
As strange as it may seem and as awkward as it felt – I went to the mirror, I looked myself in the eyes and I said “Jorjia, you did an amazing job. You handled yourself like a pro and I am so proud of you!”
And just like that – that need for reassurance dissipated.
So, two weeks later – after giving myself time and space and practicing these skills, I would say I am well on my way to healing. I can see all of the good things that came out of this situation, and I can leave the negatives. I was part of a beautiful miracle and I am so grateful that God chose my friends and I.
Have you told yourself that you are proud of you?
What skills helped you heal from traumatic events?
XO, Jorjia
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Great post 😁
Thank you!
Very helpful post. This is something I needed to read years ago. Therapy and time helped me let go of the traumas in my life.
Your wisdom amazes me Jorja❤️
Thank you Aunt Ginger! I love you!
February 2nd is the first year anniversary of me finding my mother passed away in her hot tub. I don’t think I have ever told myself that I handled the situation well. The entire experience has been creeping back into my mind more frequent than usual again and I’m not sure how to handle having to relive that day over and over again. I’ve also noticed that my dreams have been getting darker and more sinful lately in the midst of everything else that has been going through my head, I have a lot of my past surfacing as if it was when I was still unforgiven. It makes me question my security because no matter how much better I get, I am still a very sinful person. I fear I may have un-repented sin. The only thing that has helped me get through all of my traumas and fears is faith, Praying and commuting with Jesus Christ, and processing the events to friends and family over and over again.
Thank you so much for sharing that with us! What a courageous thing to share. I can’t even begin to imagine going through that experience.
We are all sinners, that is why Jesus died for us. I am so glad you found him. He is the great Comforter. As humans, I feel we have the tendency to continue to punish ourselves for the things that Jesus has already forgiven us for. Keep praying and keep your head up. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your journey! We are praying for you! Love always, Jorjia
Truly He found me. If it weren’t for some major Devine intervention, I would be completely screwed because of my own poor decisions. He promised me when I was about 14 or 15 that He would find me in the darkest of places, He would be there. And that is exactly where He found me, weeks before I lost her, she had started coming around to Christ. He always gives me sufficient reminders that I am His and nothing could ever steal me away from Him again for I am reborn. A new creation ♡ thank you so much for the prayers! I believe they got me through her anniversary with peace, knowing that in Heaven, it was her birthday!