WHAT IS TRAUMA ?
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), trauma is “an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape, or natural disaster.” However, a person may experience trauma as a response to any event they find physically or emotionally threatening or harmful.

A traumatized person can feel a range of emotions both immediately after the event and in the long term. They may feel overwhelmed, helpless, shocked, or have difficulty processing their experiences.

Trauma can also cause physical symptoms. Trauma can have long-term effects on the person’s well-being. If symptoms persist and do not decrease in severity, it can indicate that the trauma has developed into a mental health disorder called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

TYPES OF TRAUMA

• Acute trauma: This results from a single stressful or dangerous event
• Chronic trauma: This results from repeated and prolonged exposure to highly stressful events. Examples include cases of child abuse, bullying, or domestic violence.
• Complex trauma: This results from exposure to multiple traumatic events.

EMOTION
An emotion is a spontaneous mental reaction, such as joy, sorrow, hate, and love. It is a conscious mental reaction subjectively experienced as strong feeling usually directed toward a specific object and typically accompanied by physiological and behavioural changes in the body. Emotions are responses to significant internal and external events.

PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology meaning is the study or science of the human mind or soul and its processes or activities. It involves how people behave, think, and feel, and how they are influenced by biological, environmental, and social factors. Psychology aims to describe, predict, analyse, and help people with their mental and behavioural problem

EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA
Our memories trigger certain emotions. Some memories are good, while others might be bad. They can make us laugh or cry, depending on how much attention we give them. However, unknowingly some memories have a more significant impact on us Painful memories that are tough to let go of may cause emotional and psychological trauma.

We occasionally experience what seems like irreversible effects from unpleasant experiences, emotions, or the intense pain from an unforgettable moment Highly stressful circumstances that shatter your sense of security and leave you feeling helpless in a dangerous world can lead to emotional and psychological trauma.

You may struggle with troubling feelings, memories, and anxiety due to psychological trauma. You might also experience numbness, alienation, and a lack of confidence in other people.

EXAMPLES OF TRAUMATIC PEOPLE IN THE BIBLE

• Tamar (2 Samuel 13)
• Hagar (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)

Causes of Emotional and Psychological Trauma
Different individuals may respond differently to the same traumatic experience. Hence, it might not be traumatic for others, but it could be for you. Some root causes of psychological and emotional trauma are:

• Unexpected occurrences such as a collision, injury, or violent attack,
• Natural disasters,
• Domestic abuse, physical or emotional abuse, bullying during childhood, and
• Constant dangers include having a life-threatening illness or living in a neighborhood where crime is prevalent.
• War
• Kidnapping

The frequently neglected factors include:

• Surgery, particularly during the first three years of life,
• Sudden death of a loved one,
• Relationships that have been severed after a person invested a lot of emotion, and
• Experiences that were embarrassing or highly disappointing, especially when they involved intentional cruelty.

Symptoms/Signs of Emotional and Psychological Trauma
We all have many different physical and emotional responses to trauma. Do not criticize your own or other people’s responses because there is no “right” or “wrong” response. Your responses are reactions that are usually caused due to unsual activities.

Psychological & emotional signs:

• Disbelief, denial, or shock,
• Confusion and attention issues,
• Angry, irritable, and moody,
• Fear and anger,
• Shame, guilt, and self-blame,
• Excluding oneself from others when depressed or hopeless, and
• Having a distant or numb feeling.

Physical signs:

• Nightmares or insomnia,
• Fatigue,
• Difficulty paying attention,
• Rapid heart rate,
• Anxiety and nervousness, and
• Pains and aches.

Methods for Recovering From Emotional and Psychological Trauma

1. Physical Method
2. Spiritual/Biblical Method

PHYSICAL METHOD
It varies from person to person how they recover from psychological and emotional trauma. The methods which work for one may not be effective for another. The options listed below might aid in your quest for healing, but not everyone will travel the same route. Finding your way may be easier if you have professional direction from a behavioural health provider.

1. Exercise and Body Movement:
   Exercise and movement can aid the nervous system’s recovery as trauma disturbs your body’s natural equilibrium. A half-hour or longer workout helps with both physical and emotional well-being. It also doesn’t have to happen all at once. It is just as beneficial to fit in a few 10-minute workout sessions throughout the day. The best exercises are rhythmic ones that use both your arms and legs. While engaging in physical activities like yoga, martial arts, or weightlifting, incorporate mindfulness by paying attention to your movements. This is a fantastic way to divert your focus from negative thoughts


2. Connect With Others:
   Accept that lunch invitation or sign up for a hobby group to give yourself different things to think about because connecting with others is essential to healing. A little “me-time” is fine, but too much could be unhealthy. Consider contacting a behavioural health professional for assistance if talking to your friends or family causes discomfort. You can express your emotions here without fear of criticism. Counsellors can offer insight into your thoughts and suggestions for improving your outlook. Take part in social events. To keep your mind off traumatic memories and experiences, try to engage in “normal” activities. Make new friends or rekindle old friendships and meaningful past relationships. Being around people can help you feel better. Consider taking a class or joining a club to meet people who have similar interests to your own.


3. Ask For Assistance:
   You may feel better if you can find solace with a behaviouralhealth professional, spiritual guide, or a dependable family member. Even though it’s not always necessary to go into specifics about your trauma, everyone needs someone who will listen to them without judgment. Become a part of a support group for trauma victims. Connecting with a mental health professional who can motivate you, make you feel less alone, and speed up your healing is essential.

SPIRITUAL METHOD
We live in a broken world where bad things can happen even to Godly people – anything from accidents, loss, failure, abuse or even death. In all of these things, we can still hope in Jesus Christ knowing that He has overcome our pain and trauma and can heal us of emotional and psychological hurt.

Trauma is painful and how we wish there were no traumatised Christians, but reality shows us that there are. Jesus told His disciples that because of what this world is, we will face trials (John 16:33). The sin and brokenness of this world has brought about curses and tragedies that we will most probably face.

But God promises freedom from the trauma and hurt that we may face in this present age. Though there is sorrow and grieving today, God brings mercies in the morning fresh and renewed. God brings healing not just to the physical body, but even to the mind and to the soul. He is indeed our Jehovah Rapha who delivers us out of any brokenness and makes us whole in Christ

1. Satan’s lie: God doesn’t care about your emotions.
   God’s truth: “’Come to me, all you who labour 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


2. 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


3. 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


4. 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

TAKEAWAY
It is important to understand the enemy’s desire is to use your past emotional trauma and experiences to infiltrate your thought life with negativity. He wants to keep you from moving forward, from experiencing the freedom you have available to you through Christ.
If he can keep your thoughts swirling, then he can keep you stuck in the past rather than moving forward in what Jesus has for your future. The Bible is clear. The only way to overcome the enemy is by believing the truth found in the Word of God. Use the Word as your weapon to tear down strongholds linked to emotional trauma.

Are there lies the enemy uses against you day after day?

• Write them down.
• Then write at least one Bible verse that speaks against the lie.
• Meditate on it.
• Discuss the truth of God’s Word and your emotional trauma with your community of faith.
• Ask God to help you step into the truth.