Recovery Mode for Trauma and Shock

Recovery Mode for Trauma and Shock

We all go through times of trauma and extra stress when our world is rocked in an unexpected way.  During these times we gotta keep things sooooooo simple.  

Shock or disbelief, fear, sadness, and helplessness—all these feelings are clues we’ve experienced trauma.  

We can’t “think” our way out of trauma, but we can calm the body to move into recovery mode:

1) Stay Hydrated:  Use warm water in cold months

2) Walk: Stroll for 20 minutes or more at a time, take in the natural world and breathe in fresh air.

3) Reestablish routine as much as humanly possible: Eat, sleep, and relax with friends or family on schedule. 

4) Stick with foods that are warm and easy to digest: For lunch and dinner opt for soups and stews.  For breakfast, creamy rice pudding is a great choice (You get the idea, right?  Crunchy, salty, or sweet processed foods can make things worse.)

5) Relax: Try some easy exercise, yoga, meditation, or listening to music.  Connect with a friend, take a bath, read a book, watch an uplifting or funny movie.

6) Prioritize 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night: You need sleep to process this event, and help you think clearly. In the evenings “power-down" before bedtime, creating a screen-free routine to help you get deeper more restful sleep.

Overwhelmed? Try one thing on this list.