Trauma-based Learning

Living the Moment

Background

Experiencing trauma makes living in the present extremely difficult. These disturbing events can chain our minds to the past. Which never allows us to enjoy the good things at the moment. We believe it is best that we don’t ignore our trauma and that we instead learn to cope with it by encouraging ourselves to not take the pleasures in front of us for granted.

Meditation

Meditation can help by calming our sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, lowering our panic responses, such as fight or flight.” Ultimately, it reduces the number of stress hormones being released in our bodies. In addition, it allows us to rewire our brain and avoid the side-effect of depression, as brought upon by most medication. 

As with most things, meditation takes time and practice. While meditating, it is important to have an open mind and patience. 

Yoga

Similar to meditation, yoga calms our parasympathetic system or panic responses through regulated breathing. The primary goal of yoga is to stay in the moment, leaving the trauma in the past. Of course, there is a benefit to physical health as well. Overall, we try to align our physical, psychological, and spiritual selves into a state of relaxation.

Woman in meditation
Image by Irina, via Pixabay

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a mindset, a way to live your life at the moment. Attempting to be mindful can sometimes be triggering, but we should push ourselves into a state of stabilization. This will allow healing from disturbing past events. 

It is important to remind ourselves that we are not forgetting our past or justifying the actions of the perpetrator, instead it is a way to cope with stressful experiences. 

Brain Health

Check out our other resources on how meditation can soothe our brains.

Sources:

Kamenetz, Anya. “The Role Of Yoga In Healing Trauma.” NPR, NPR, 2 June 2017, www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/06/02/527570310/the-role-of-yoga-in-healing-trauma.

Linder, Jason N. “What Is Trauma, and Can Mindfulness Help Treat It?” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 19 Sept. 2019, www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/mindfulness-insights/201909/what-is-trauma-and-can-mindfulness-help-treat-it.

Palombo, Ian. “How Meditation Can Help With Trauma.” Denver Mental Health Collective, 19 Mar. 2020, denvermhc.com/meditation-can-help-with-trauma/.

Pies Fitness Yoga. “How Can Yoga Help With Trauma?” Physical. Intellectual. Emotional. Spiritual., www.piesfitnessyoga.com/how-can-yoga-help-with-trauma/.

*This site content is provided for informational purposes only and does not intend to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have medical questions and/or concerns, please contact a medical professional.