How Mindfulness Meditation Can Heal Trauma
Trauma is loosely defined as “an emotional response to a terrible event”. which can be anything we’ve experienced that has left a profound impact on us. Not only does it cause mental injury, to our mind, it physically changes the structure of our brains.
When we’ve experienced prolonged suffering, our brain doesn’t inhibit the fight-or-flight response. Why? Because it’s always been in that state, it never left it. Living with trauma every day means our brain reacts as if we’re in danger all the time, even when we’re safe.
So what does that mean? We’re always reacting from a place of emotional pain because our brain perceives everything as a threat. But this becomes a vicious cycle. One that stops us from moving forward and past our past. It paralyses us from doing anything that could help us change our circumstances for the better.
And we feel helpless, trapped in our thoughts and a body that is conditioned to keep us traumatised. Trauma imprints our being, subconsciously, and every day is an unconscious re-experiencing of unaddressed pain.
Unfortunately, this goes on for many years, and, tragically for some, a whole lifetime. But it doesn’t have to be this way. And this is where mindfulness meditation can be life-changing.
