Healing from Trauma: Understanding, Processing, and Moving Forward
- Carrie
- Apr 6
- 5 min read
Trauma is a deeply personal experience, yet it is something that impacts all of us in different ways. It’s not always visible, and often, the effects of trauma are felt on a subconscious level. From physical and emotional injuries to suppressed memories and limiting beliefs, trauma affects every aspect of our being.
It’s essential to understand the different kinds of trauma and how repressed emotions can manifest in our lives, bodies, and beliefs. By healing trauma through various modalities such as Trauma Coaching, energy healing practices like Reiki and Integrated Energy Therapy, and somatic release, individuals can embark on a transformative journey of recovery and self-discovery.
Types of Trauma: A Deep Dive
1. Sexual Trauma:
Sexual trauma can stem from a variety of experiences, such as sexual abuse, assault, or even unwanted sexual encounters. It often leaves survivors feeling violated, vulnerable, and disconnected from their own bodies.
2. Medical Trauma:
Medical trauma is often caused by invasive medical procedures, illness, or a prolonged hospital stay. This form of trauma can result in a fear of medical environments, the loss of bodily autonomy, and an increased sense of vulnerability.
3. Birth Trauma:
Birth trauma is experienced by both parents and babies and can include complications during labor or delivery, premature births, or unanticipated medical procedures. For the mother, it may lead to emotional distress, while for the child, it may affect their development and attachment to caregivers.
4. Grief:
Grief is not only associated with the death of a loved one but also with loss in many forms—relationships, dreams, and even phases of life. Grief can be isolating, and when unresolved, it may cause emotional numbness or intense pain that lingers.
5. Physical Trauma:
This refers to any bodily injury, whether accidental or intentional. It can result in physical pain, but more importantly, it often leaves emotional scars. Chronic pain or disability from physical trauma may affect one’s self-esteem and outlook on life.
6. Emotional Trauma:
Emotional trauma is the result of experiences that overwhelm the emotional capacity of an individual, such as bullying, abandonment, or rejection. These experiences can lead to lasting emotional scars, like anxiety, depression, and an inability to trust others.
7. Narcissistic Trauma:
This form of trauma arises from prolonged emotional and psychological abuse, often within relationships involving a narcissist. Victims of narcissistic abuse may struggle with identity loss, guilt, shame, and a constant feeling of not being “good enough.”
Other examples of trauma include war trauma, childhood neglect, financial trauma, and even environmental stressors like living through natural disasters. Each form of trauma impacts the body, mind, and spirit, but understanding the different kinds can be the first step toward healing.
How Trauma Affects the Body and Mind
When trauma occurs, the body can become a repository for repressed emotions. These emotions might remain locked in the body, resulting in physical manifestations such as tension, fatigue, or even chronic illness.
Often, our minds suppress these feelings to protect us from the overwhelming nature of the experience. However, these repressed emotions don’t disappear—they get stored within us and may eventually result in limiting beliefs about ourselves, life, and the world around us.
Limiting beliefs such as “I’m not good enough,” “I can’t trust anyone,” or “I’ll never be safe” can form as a direct result of trauma. These beliefs restrict personal growth and make it difficult to form healthy relationships or reach one’s full potential.
The body's response to trauma often includes a dysregulated nervous system. The autonomic nervous system becomes unbalanced, making it difficult to relax and feel safe in the present moment. This can lead to symptoms such as chronic pain, fatigue, insomnia, and even autoimmune conditions. The central nervous system (CNS), which regulates stress responses, becomes hyper-aroused or “stuck” in the fight-or-flight mode, making it harder for individuals to calm down or feel safe.
Healing Trauma: Approaches and Solutions
Healing from trauma requires more than just addressing the emotional or psychological aspects—it also involves healing the body and nervous system. Fortunately, various therapeutic modalities are designed to help individuals process trauma and return to a state of balance.
Trauma Coaching offers a safe space for individuals to explore their trauma, understand its impact, and develop strategies for healing. A Trauma-Informed Coach listens without judgment, creating a supportive environment where clients can feel heard and validated. Through coaching, individuals are empowered to challenge limiting beliefs and create healthier perspectives on themselves and their lives.
Energy Healing Modalities like Reiki and Integrated Energy Therapy (IET) work by restoring the flow of energy within the body. These approaches target energetic blockages, helping to clear trapped emotions and restore harmony. Reiki, in particular, promotes relaxation and stress reduction, while IET focuses on releasing emotional pain and trauma from the body.
Somatic Release is another powerful tool in trauma healing. This approach involves connecting with the body to release stored emotions. By engaging in mindful movement or breathwork, individuals can bring awareness to physical sensations in the body and release the tension that is a result of suppressed trauma.
These approaches help activate the Parasympathetic Nervous System—our relaxation response—which is essential for healing from trauma. By creating a safe environment for the nervous system to shift out of a constant state of fight-or-flight, these practices promote long-term healing and emotional recovery.
Introducing Carrie-Leigh Stockwell: Your Trauma-Informed Coach and Energy Practitioner
Carrie-Leigh Stockwell is a compassionate Trauma-Informed Coach and Energy Practitioner who specializes in supporting individuals on their healing journey. By creating a safe space for clients, Carrie-Leigh helps them navigate the emotional and physical impacts of trauma with care and understanding.
Her services include:
- Trauma-Informed Coaching: Working with clients to process and overcome the limiting beliefs formed by trauma, empowering them to live with purpose and self-compassion.
- Reiki: A gentle, hands-on energy healing technique that promotes relaxation, relieves stress, and supports the body's natural ability to heal.
- Integrated Energy Therapy (IET): A specialized form of energy therapy designed to help release emotional blockages and restore balance within the body.
- Somatic Meditations: Guided meditations that encourage body awareness and emotional release, helping individuals reconnect with their inner wisdom and healing potential.
Carrie-Leigh's approach is centered on the belief that healing can be holistic—addressing the emotional, physical, and energetic aspects of trauma. Through her work, clients learn to activate their parasympathetic nervous system and shift into a state of healing and wholeness. She provides a nurturing, safe space where individuals can release their trauma, transform limiting beliefs, and step into their fullest potential.
If you’re ready to embark on your own healing journey, Carrie-Leigh Stockwell offers the guidance and support you need to release the trauma that holds you back. With her expert services, you can find peace, clarity, and a renewed sense of self.
Contact Carrie-Leigh today to begin your transformative journey toward healing and personal growth.
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