Stress and Trauma-informed service
Stress, anxiety, and trauma since the COVID-19 pandemic have increased. There may be a solution through mindful compassion. Meditation training has been shown to help with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and improve depressive symptoms. Recognising trauma, individually and collectively, is the compassionate paradigm shift we need to help heal mental health. We tell our counsellors that we're stressed, anxious and depressed. What's not immediately apparent is that trauma is often at the root of what ails us. Trauma underlines so much of our daily lives and can impact our relationships, sense of self and even how we present ourselves at work.
Susan has been working during the COVID-19 pandemic in trauma-informed care… it is about support for you and feeling safe with transparency to build trust. Trauma isn't just about what happened to you. It's also how you and your nervous system respond to what has happened. When we are feeling significant stress, it overloads us. We can recognise how the nervous system can react by having symptoms of PTSD, like feeling anxious and being easily startled and overwhelmed. These lasting changes are silent indicators of trauma.
Trauma is more prevalent than many people realise and acknowledges the impact on everyday living. This means that it may be difficult to talk about. Yet, it's shaping our interactions with those around us, whether at work, school or elsewhere. Part of a trauma-informed approach is to realise the effects of trauma on others around you. When the person leading the conversation raises the issue of trauma, it removes the stigma and permits people to share.