Why Holistic Self-Care Is So Important After A Traumatic Event
Life rarely unfolds exactly how we expect. Whether it’s an accident, an illness, or a sudden change in our personal circumstances, disruptions can leave us feeling like the ground has been pulled out from beneath our feet. In these moments, it’s easy to neglect our own healing as we scramble to make sense of what happened.
Sadly, trauma is not an uncommon thing in today’s world. As the World Health Organization notes, almost 4% of the world’s population has had PTSD at some point in their lives. Moreover, while 40% recover within a year, some symptoms can persist if healing isn’t comprehensive and holistic.
That said, it can be difficult to properly recover and process whatever it is you went through when you have to deal with daily responsibilities. So, in this article, let’s explore how and why you need to start prioritizing a holistic approach to healing.
Don’t Minimize Your Trauma
Here’s the thing: trauma, particularly the physical kind, doesn’t just affect the body. It also ends up affecting your sense of safety, identity, and control. Take car accidents, for instance. We tend to think of them as an unfortunate but natural reality of urban life. However, severe injuries and death are massive blows to a person’s life that can leave them affected across many dimensions.
Look at the recent traffic diversion incident in Rogers, Arkansas, where two accidents occurred off I-49. For passersby, it doesn’t seem like too big a deal, but the impact on the family and individuals involved is actually immense. Sometimes, we manifest this mindset even when we experience trauma.
We tend to minimize and downplay it. After all, there are immediate practical concerns that become the main focus. Assessing damage, contacting insurance, finding a personal injury lawyer in Rogers, Arkansas, etc.
Sometimes you’ll need to visit a hospital and receive treatment and medical records for insurance, as Keith Law Group points out. However, it is so important to remember that healing must go beyond the physical wound; it must also include emotional and energetic restoration.
This is because true recovery happens when your body feels safe again, not just physically, but emotionally. Tuning into that process, without rushing it, is one of the most powerful things you can do. The important thing is to remember that trauma can come with either a big T or a little t.
That’s what Natasha Duke, a registered psychotherapist, explains. The big ‘T’ trauma refers to what people typically think of as traumatic experiences. These are war, sexual assault, accidents, etc. The small ‘t’ traumatic events include the loss of a pet, divorce, financial trouble, etc. It’s essential that you take all trauma seriously and give yourself the opportunity to heal.
Indulge in the Healing Power of Silence and Stillness
In the rush to “get back to normal,” many people bypass the most essential step of healing: pausing. Stillness often feels uncomfortable because it brings up everything we’ve been trying to avoid. But it’s in stillness that we begin to listen to our breath, our thoughts, and our bodies.
When life throws us off course, the nervous system often stays in a heightened state, constantly scanning for more danger. Meditation, breath awareness, and even just sitting quietly with a warm cup of tea can begin to re-regulate the nervous system. These small acts send a signal: you’re safe now.
Research by Caldiroli, Procaccia, Negri, et.al, published in Frontiers, found that practicing mindfulness had the power to mitigate trauma effects like anxiety. In particular, there was improvement in emotional regulation, awareness, and resilience.
In other words, stillness is not laziness or inaction. It is a sacred space where insight emerges, grief can be witnessed, and emotional knots can begin to loosen. If you’re navigating a legal case, a new diagnosis, or simply the shock of a life change, taking even five minutes to pause daily can dramatically shift your internal state.
Use this stillness to ask yourself gentle questions: What do I need right now? What part of me is asking for care? The answers won’t always be clear, but the act of listening itself is healing.
Start the Process of Reconnecting with Your Body
After any kind of disruption—physical or emotional—it’s common to feel disconnected from the body. You may find yourself going through the motions without really “inhabiting” your skin. That’s because the body holds onto stress, pain, and fear in ways we often don’t consciously recognize. If we don’t take time to gently return to our body’s wisdom, healing can stall.
This reconnection doesn’t have to be dramatic or intense. Start with small gestures: place a hand on your chest and breathe into it, take a barefoot walk on grass, or stretch gently before bed. Somatic practices like gentle yoga, intuitive movement, or even dance can help you feel at home in your body again.
For practices like Yoga, there is so much evidence of its benefits that even the VA offers an eight-week mindful movement program. Elika Razmjou, clinical health psychologist, explains that many who experience trauma have an activated fight or flight system. Thus, the combination of breathing, stretching, and relaxation is healing for them.
So, try to notice how your body responds to different environments, foods, people, and thoughts. This awareness is a powerful tool. The more you understand your body’s cues, the better you can give it what it needs.
When you reconnect with your body, you’re not just healing; you’re reclaiming sovereignty. You’re saying, “I am here, in this moment, and I choose to care for myself.” That act alone can shift your energy and empower your journey forward, especially in times of transition or recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How to heal yourself mentally?
Mental healing takes time and intention. Start by talking to someone you trust, practicing mindfulness, and setting healthy boundaries. Journaling, therapy, rest, and even small wins matter. It’s about creating space for your emotions, not judging them, and slowly rebuilding your peace of mind.
2. How do I know I’m healing?
You’ll notice you’re healing when things that used to trigger you don’t hit as hard, or when you respond with more calm and less panic. Sleep improves, self-talk gets kinder, and you feel more in control of your emotions instead of being ruled by them.
3. How to use yoga to release trauma?
Yoga helps release trauma by connecting breath to movement and grounding you in your body. Gentle flows, deep stretches, and poses like a child’s pose or pigeon help unlock stored tension. The focus on breathing can calm the nervous system and bring emotional release over time.
The key point to all of this is that healing is never linear. Some days you’ll feel strong, other days fragile; it’s completely okay to feel overwhelmed. What matters is that you honor the pace your body and soul ask of you. This chapter may feel heavy, but it doesn’t have to define you. You are still becoming, still growing, still deeply worthy of joy and peace, so let your healing unfold gently.
