Meditation for Dealing with Trauma: How Does it Help?

Meditation is a known method that is utilized to help people recover from psychological problems like post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues caused by traumatic events. However, we should be reminded that it is not the total remedy for these types of illnesses. There are actual experiences for other people where meditation only worsened their mental conditions because of possible reasons where they are required to revisit traumatic events or situations. Although it is an activity that develops our awareness towards our consciousness in whatever that’s on our minds, we have to realize the fact that our minds aren’t always readily wired to simply perceive whatever we see within our surroundings. A specific kind of meditation known as trauma-informed meditation prevents hurting the mind by enabling mindfulness.

Keep in mind that the one who experienced the trauma firsthand is the one who qualifies for it. In other words, only the one who suffered can determine if the event was traumatic or not. You cannot simply deduce trauma as a specific set of events or happenings. According to the American Psychological Association, the emotional reaction to any circumstance or happening that was considered by the subject as dreadful.

Furthermore, researchers have proven the various effects of trauma. Aside from the known psychological effects, it is also discovered to alter the functions and activities of the brain. This particular brain activity that allows itself to modify and adapt as a response to the events is called neuroplasticity which is also vital in the person’s recovery from their trauma. To aid their healing, meditation is utilized to provide a new way to perceive former and present situations by changing the brain’s formation.

The Dynamics of Meditation in Healing Trauma

Meditation contributes to forming protective barriers between thoughts and emotions, as well as how we sense ourselves. Moreover, we explore that we are simply what we think and feel. We also realize that not all the thoughts are factual and would need to extract a response from us. With discipline, these lessons can be applied when traumatic events are manifested. Dealing with all the traumatic expressions within our mind and body with empathy and acceptance, we liberate ourselves from having to always respond and suffer repetitively.

The usage of meditation for dealing with trauma is backed up by many studies. Stress caused by trauma affects different parts of the brain such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex while at the same time making the amygdala active. Amygdala is the part that determines whether we should deal with the situation or flee from it. But meditation tends to change them all as it reinforces the functions of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex while regulating the activities in the amygdala.

Yes, meditation does have the capacity to heal a person from their trauma but the healing itself is not a swift process. Survivors of traumatic events could already have prevented themselves from developing thoughts, feelings, and other bodily reactions connected with the trauma. As soon as the trauma resurfaces by closing their eyes or concentrating on their mind and other meditation-related activities, it would only have them suffer again.

This energy caused by trauma could stay in the body not unless it is acknowledged and freed. Meditation could help as a form of a solution but not every meditation practice could suit every individual dealing with trauma. You need to know that when meditation only causes agitation instead of keeping the person calm, the meditation practice isn’t the one to blame nor the person doing it. Meditation comes in different forms and styles and a few could be advisable to effectively address trauma.

4 Ways to Start with Your Trauma-Informed Meditation Practice

1. Look for a reliable trauma-informed meditation guide

Many therapists or teachers claim to demonstrate practices that effectively deal with trauma but have not fully understood how meditation works and disregard the fact that their students have various traumatic experiences that shouldn’t be compared. It’s important to look for teachers that have understood both trauma and meditation. An effective trauma-informed meditation teacher should be able to show strategies to use whenever meditation negatively impacts the person.

2. Only deal with what you can tolerate

We need to remember that every individual has limitations to what they can only deal with. Those who have suffered from trauma can effectively function through a particular duration of awareness. With trauma-informed mindfulness, it helps the individual be aware when they’re extending the boundaries of what they can accept and know how to get back on their feet.

3. Practice meditation in your place of comfort

Even just the instruction of closing your eyes can immediately influence the individual to stay beyond their comfort zone. Meditation is also a channel that handles crucial and tremendous thoughts and emotions but if you apply this while you’re in a place of discomfort would only make the practice ineffective. Public places or those areas that caused trauma are usually common areas that can cause discomfort.

4. Allow empathy and acceptance

As previously mentioned, healing trauma is not a quick procedure where after weeks or months of consecutive meditation practices, you get automatically healed. You need to understand that trauma is already somewhat implanted in our bodies after experiencing that shocking and disturbing event. This only means recovering from it would take patience and empathy when practicing trauma-informed meditation.

Conclusion

Although meditation is known as an instrument that calms the mind and relaxes the body, using it to address trauma could only be effective when it is only acknowledged as a portion of a comprehensive and integrated mechanism for trauma recovery that should only be administered by a professional trauma-informed guided meditation group.