Emotional and Psychological Trauma

Helping someone deal with emotional and psychological trauma.

•  Be patient and understanding. Healing from emotional or psychological trauma takes time. Be patient with the pace of recovery and remember that everyone’s response to trauma is different. Don’t judge on a person’s reaction against your own response or anyone else’s.
• Offer practical support to help a person get back into normal routine. That may mean helping with daily tasks, such as housework or shopping for groceries. Also, being available to talk or listen when needed.
• Don’t pressure a person into talking but be available when they want to talk. Some trauma survivors find it difficult to talk about what happened. Don’t force this person to open up. Simply let them know you are there to listen whenever they feel ready.
• Help to socialize and relax. Encourage them to participate in physical exercise, seek out friends, and pursue hobbies and other activities that bring them pleasure. Taking a fitness class together or set a regular lunch date with friends.
• Don’t take the trauma symptoms personally. A person may become angry, irritable, withdrawn, or emotionally distant. Remember that this is a result of the trauma and may not have anything to do with you or your relationship