WHAT IS TRAUMA ?
Traumatic stress is a normal reaction to an abnormal event. Usually, symptoms get better with time, but people with more intense symptoms may need professional help. Or Trauma is the result of a negative event. It occurs when you feel emotionally or mentally hurt by something that has happened. The trauma isn’t the event or experience itself but rather your body and mind’s response to it.

Traumatic stress affects the brain, which makes it crucial to take steps toward recovery and mitigate its negative effects and impacts as much as possible. Examples of traumatic events include the death of someone you love, experiencing abuse, a plane or automobile crash, etc.

EMOTIONAL TRAUMA
The emotional trauma you experienced when a painful life circumstance took place may have been a one-time event or recurring over a period of years. Either way, it left a mark. And you can’t seem to shake it. As long as you tolerate lingering symptoms of emotional trauma, you’re allowing the enemy to keep you shackled. Just like Jesus did for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, He wants to lose you from your shackles and set you free. He wants to remove all evidence of the trauma you’ve experienced, so you can live a life of abundance. No matter what you may have endured, emotional trauma is not a life sentence. You can take back your life and heal! Learn how to overcome emotional trauma. with help from God’s Word.

Examples of Emotional trauma include

• Rejection, neglect, criticism or abuse as a child
• Experiencing a broken home as a child
• Divorce
• Betrayal
• Loss of a family member
• Extreme financial pressure or loss

Biblical examples

• Hagar in Genesis 16
• David struggled with troubling thoughts and despair (Psalm 38:4)
• Elijah was discouraged and worn down (1 Kings 19:4)
• Job suffered from grief, loss, and illness (Job 3:11)

Common responses to emotional trauma (Read Ephesians 6:12) :

• Guilt
• Shame
• Anger
• Fear
• Grief
• Depression
• Rejection
• Feelings of inadequacy
• Defensiveness
• Criticism of others
• Shock and disbelief
• Helplessness
• Relief

Physical Symptoms

• Feeling dizzy or faint
• Trembling or shaking
• Rapid breathing
• Racing thoughts
• Changes in sleeping pattern (insomnia)
• Unexplained aches and pains (headaches, muscle aches)
• Loss or increase in appetite
• Nightmares
• Easy startle response
• Increased anxiety
• Confusion
• Irritability
• A sense of isolation
• Fatigue
• Racing heartbeat
• Tension
• Flashbacks
• Conversion disorder (aka functional neurological disorder), which can cause numbness, blindness, or paralysis

FIVE THINGS THE SCRIPTURES TEACH US ABOUT TRAUMA AND SUFFERING

1. That God is present and in control of our suffering Firstly, God is present and in control of our suffering. In times of great suffering and pain, we often feel the farthest from God. Look at David ( Psalm 13:1), Jeremiah (Lamentations 3:8) and Job (Job 9:16). Even Jesus at the height of his pain cries out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) God is sovereign despite our circumstances. He created all things and He controls all things ( Deuteronomy 4:39; 1 Chronicles 29:11; Psalms 103:19; Daniel 4:35; Colossians 1:15-17). He allows us to experience the consequences of sin while remaining fully in control of all things including Satan, who can only bring suffering into our lives if God allows it (Luke 22:31; Job 1:12; ). God is in control of our circumstances, and He wants to transform us into the very image of His Son.


2. That God is good and cares for us “How could a loving God allow __________?” Fill in the blank with any horribly traumatic event that occurs here on planet Earth. People often use this statement to argue against not only the love of God but also the very existence of God. But God does love us and that is evident in our redemptive history. The creator of the world made a way for disobedient, powerless creatures to come into an eternal relationship with Him. He is patient and gracious. He became one of us (John 3:16) and then sacrificed Himself for us (1 John 3:16). Self sacrifice is the ultimate act of love (John 15:13). God is indeed good and He longs to be in an ever deepening relationship with us.


3. Through our trails and suffering we have an opportunity to draw closer to God Even Jesus was sad when he went through difficult times — at Lazarus’s grave, in the garden of Gethsemane, and on the cross. The third truth we are called to recognize is that through our trails and suffering we have an opportunity to draw closer to God. During the easy times we often become self-reliant, forgetting our need for God. It is in the hard times, when our faith is tested, that we recognize our need for complete dependency on Him ( James 1:2). We are ever being conformed into the image of Christ and suffering is a necessary part of that transformation (James 1:4; Romans 8:29; Philippians 1:29).


4. Jesus understands what it is to suffer Jesus understands what it is to suffer is the fourth truth. We do not worship a distant, unapproachable God. We worship a God that knows what it is to be human (1 Peter 2:21). He knows what it is to suffer ( Hebrews 4:15). Just think about Jesus’ life for a moment. He didn’t experience just one traumatic event during His time on Earth. His whole life was full of suffering. The prophet Isaiah told of His suffering hundreds of years before His birth (Hebrews 2:17-18). He was born into unimaginable poverty in a country occupied by a cruel army (Isaiah 53:3-5). He narrowly escaped a mass slaughtering of children that was ordered because of His birth (Luke 2:1-7). He was physically assaulted by Satan (Matthew 2:16), persecuted because of His teachings ( Matthew 4:1-11), thought insane by His family ( Luke 4:28-29), betrayed by His own disciple (Mark 3:21), deserted by His friends (Mark 14:43-45), falsely arrested (Mark 14:50), publicly humiliated (Mark 14:56-59; Mark 15:16-20), beaten to the point of death (Luke 23:8-12), and then slowly and painfully publicly executed by crucifixion as a common criminal (Matthew 27:26).


5. Our identity is grounded in Christ Finally, our identity is not defined by traumatic events or suffering but is grounded in Christ. God does not see you as a victim. He sees you as His child. The scriptures tell us that as children of God, we were chosen before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless adopted sons and daughters, lavished with grace, redeemed, forgiven, given spiritual wisdom and understanding and marked with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 27:33-39). We are in Christ! We sit at the right hand of the Father! We have His righteousness! We must not allow tragedy or circumstances to define who we are or how we live.

HOW TO DEAL WITH EMOTIONAL TRAUMA

1. Be willing to overcome emotional trauma/ Accept your feelings


2. Stop the blame game: You cannot blame your fears, insecurities, negative attitude, failures, anger or any other behavior on anyone but you. Go to Jesus and let Him take every negative feeling off your shoulders and out of your life forever. Allow Him to wash away the past and bring you into a glorious future!


3. Forgive: Unforgiveness blocks every good thing


4. Fill the void: Resist fear. Replace a spirit of fear with strong faith. You can’t just say, “I won’t criticize others anymore.” You have to: See yourself the way God sees you and receive His love. Stop criticizing yourself. Look for the best in others. Volunteer your time, give blood, donate to a favorite charity, or comfort others. Connect with others affected by the traumatic event Practice relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing to reduce stress, ease anxiety and depression, and improve your sleep. Schedule time for activities that bring you joy


5. Minimize media exposure: Limit your media exposure to the traumatic event. Don’t watch the news or check social media just before bed, and refrain from repeatedly viewing disturbing footage Try to avoid distressing images and video clips.


6. Challenge your sense of helplessness: Give yourself time to heal and to mourn any losses you’ve experienced. Don’t try to force the healing process. Be patient with the pace of recovery. Be prepared for difficult and volatile emotions. Allow yourself to feel whatever you’re feeling without judgment or guilt.


7. Get moving: Try exercise that is rhythmic and engages both your arms and legs. Walking, running, swimming, basketball, or dancing are good choices. Aim to exercise for 30 minutes or more each day Boost your energy and motivation. If you’re struggling to find the energy or motivation to exercise, start by playing your favorite music and moving around or dancing. Once you get moving, you’ll start to feel more energetic.


8. Reach out to others: You don’t need to talk about your traumatic experiences. Reaching out Expand your social network.


9. Eat and sleep well: The food you eat can improve or worsen your mood and affect your ability to cope with traumatic stress. Eating a diet full of processed and convenience food, refined carbohydrates, and sugary snacks can worsen symptoms of traumatic stress. Conversely, eating a diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables, high-quality protein, and healthy fats, especially omega-3 fatty acids, can help you better cope with the ups and downs that follow a tragic event.

SOME BIBLE VERSES TO HELP WHEN IN AN EMOTIONAL TRAUMATIC SITUATION

• Satan’s lie: You will never get past this emotion, event, etc. God’s truth: “He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that walk in the darkness, nor the destruction that lays waste at noonday.”—Psalm 91:4-6


• “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”—1 Peter 5:10


• Satan’s lie: God doesn’t care about your emotions. God’s truth: “’Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.’”—Matthew 11:28-30. "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”—1 Peter 5:6-7


• Satan’s lie: God can’t be good. He caused this confusion and emotional trauma you experienced. God’s truth: “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace…”—1 Corinthians 14:33 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the savings of many lives.”—Genesis 50:20


• Satan’s lie: The trauma you experience is your fault, and you will forever live with it. God’s truth: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”—1 Corinthians 5:17 “’I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.’”—Isaiah 43:25


• Satan’s lie: You don’t need others to help you. God’s truth: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”—Hebrews 10:24-25 “…not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.”—1 Peter 3:9

See part two (2) here