How Boundaries Play A Part In Healing Trauma

Trauma is an emotional response to stressful or disturbing events that can have a long-lasting effect on a person's overall mental health and wellness. When a traumatic event occurs, it can alter a person's sense of self and safety.

No one actually wants to relive a traumatic event or experience, which can make it more difficult to process what happened. Instead, many people tend to bury their true thoughts and feelings. While this may provide temporary relief, the signs and symptoms will manifest in the body and brain instead. The memories, thoughts, and emotions related to the trauma can feel like a volcano ready to burst at any moment.

Instead of trying to ignore what happened to you, setting and enforcing boundaries can help provide healthier and longer-lasting relief for the trauma that you endured. Let's learn more about how boundaries can help to play a part in healing trauma.

Practice Self-Care

Self-care isn't selfish. Boundaries and self-care go hand in hand. Both are essential in improving one's overall well-being. They're what ensure that we're putting ourselves first. Boundaries are unique to each individual. They can be limits on our time, energy, finances, personal space, material possessions, and more. Boundaries mean that you're looking after yourself to help prevent emotional exhaustion or burnout.

Increase Self-Esteem

When someone goes through a traumatic event, it can be common for their self-worth to diminish. Setting boundaries can be a great first step towards acknowledging that you are deserving and worthy. Setting and implementing boundaries can be a great way to let yourself and others know what you'll tolerate versus what you won't. You'll be able to communicate your wants and needs while improving your self-esteem in the process.

Take Back Control

Creating boundaries is a step in the right direction toward breaking the cycle of being a victim. When you don't have boundaries or when you allow others to cross the boundaries you've laid out for them, it can increase your negative thoughts and feelings about yourself. Setting and enforcing boundaries will enable you to regain control to ensure your life is yours and yours only.

Better Manage Emotions

After a traumatic event, the emotions that you experience can feel like you're on a rollercoaster. Boundaries allow you to emotionally heal. When a person feels safe, they can limit the types of negative or triggering events or situations. They will also be in a better state of mind to heal, grow, and give themselves grace and compassion.

Improve Relationships

After a traumatic event, it can be difficult to build on relationships or form new relationships due to a lack of trust in yourself and others. Boundaries can help to improve the relationships in your life. Communicating your boundaries to family members, friends, romantic partners, or colleagues can help you build trust, understanding, and respect with one another. Feeling comfortable enough to share and enforce your boundaries and having someone who understands and respects those boundaries can create a healthier and more balanced dynamic.

Next Steps

You are not defined by your trauma. Healing is possible. You can get there a lot sooner and easier with the help of boundaries. Know that you're not alone as you're working to implement changes in your life. Change isn't easy, but it's necessary so that you can move forward. If you or a loved one are struggling with healing from a past trauma, don't hesitate to reach out for additional support. Together, we can work with you to help you heal, better manage the signs and symptoms, and work on setting and enforcing boundaries. Reach out today to set up an initial consultation.