Giving myself hope...

One of the challenges of surviving a trauma, is figuring out what to do now. Some of us feel guilt, some of us blame ourselves, some of us shut down, some of us ignore it but it boils beneath the surface as we try to pretend it didn't happen, some of us turn to other things to cope that are less than healthy for us but we find them to be helpful, and the list goes on. Within all of these things, the one thing that seems to be missing lots of times, is giving ourselves permission to grieve what happened to us, and to give ourselves the TLC (tender loving care) that we need. So based on my experience surviving trauma, here are some affirmations that I'd like to share with you.

It's okay to seek help.

It's okay to say as much or as little as I'm comfortable with.

It's okay to say I'm not comfortable.

It's okay to give myself time to process what happened.

I'm still good even though something bad happened to me.

I didn't ask for the trauma to happen. It was either perpetrated on me, or it was an accident. Either way, it wasn't my fault. There is nothing I did to ask for it, no matter what I tell myself on the down days.

I am still worthwhile. What happened to me has not changed my worth or my value. I am still special, valuable, and I still have a lot to offer, even if I don't feel like it right now.

Right now, my feelings may lie to me a lot, but as I deal with what happened, they'll get better and I'll be able to hear truth about me - that I'm not as bad as I feel right now.

I may feel like I don't deserve support or anything good, but the truth is I do deserve support and good things to happen in my life. I just feel bad right now, and this will pass.

I give myself permission to draw on my faith in my higher power, even when it is low.

These are just some of the affirmations that I have used. If you need to borrow them for a while, please do. They can apply to you too... you are so special and so strong to have survived your trauma. Not everyone survives trauma - but you and I did. So we have something that we are meant to do. Life has a calling for us. Call on your strength now to get you through this journey of recovery. You can do it. You deserve the gift of yourself - of your hope and of your healing. You are so worth the effort of the journey. :)

If you're struggling to hang in there, if you're struggling to take the next step, please hang on. Reach out for help. Seek support - friends, counselor, physician, support groups, 7 Cups, trauma specific programs, pastor, higher power, or whom ever other persons or programs you can think of.

Try not to be afraid to reach out... I'm here and there are many others here who are willing to be a support for you. We've been there and we understand.

Take gentle care of you and know you are worth this fight for healing and recovery.