Being Whole: 21 Days to Overcoming Relational TraumaSample

EMOTIONS:

Trauma can have a profound impact on emotions, causing a range of intense and sometimes conflicting feelings. Common emotional responses to trauma can include anxiety, fear, anger, guilt, shame, and sadness. These emotions can be overwhelming and may interfere with daily functioning, relationships, and overall well-being. A lack of peace is the indicator that an emotional eruption is brewing. Unhealed trauma will have you living in a constant fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response to perceived threats. I know this all too well. I feel like I had a season of being snappy (fight response) towards my family. I realized being a caretaker at a very early age and having to parent myself as well had simply run its course. So, needing me at times would overwhelm me. I did not know how to verbalize that I did not have the capacity I had 20 years ago. Instead, I would have a full-blown trauma response.

As a Christian believer, regulating emotions is essential to maintain a balanced and healthy spiritual life. The Bible teaches that we should not be controlled by our feelings, but rather by the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:16). We are also called to be slow to anger, forgiving, and to love one another (Ephesians 4:31-32). It is important to seek God's guidance through prayer and reading the Scriptures to gain wisdom and self-control. Through these practices, we can maintain a steady and peaceful heart that reflects Christ's love to those around us.

Questions to Ponder:

More than any area, trauma negatively affects the emotions. Our emotions are how we express what we feel. How would you describe your emotional life after trauma? What steps are you taking towards emotional regulation? What are your barriers to emotional health