- [Narrator] Hey Psych2Goers, welcome back to our channel.
Thank you all so much for the love that you've given us.
Your ongoing support to us does make psychology
and mental health more accessible to everyone.
So thank you.
Now, let's continue.
Have you been through a traumatic event in your life?
Are you possibly struggling to heal from this event?
An estimated 70% of adults in the US
have experienced at least one traumatic event
during their lifetime.
Traumatic events include any form of abuse, road accidents,
medical emergencies, invasive medical procedures,
natural disasters, social unrest, loss, grief,
and cultural, intergenerational, and historical trauma.
The lasting effects of trauma include negative self-talk
and low self-esteem.
To help you become more aware of yourself,
here are six harmful beliefs about trauma
that can hurt your mental health.
As a quick disclaimer, we wanted to let you know
that this video is for informative purposes only
and is not meant to diagnose PTSD.
If you think you need help,
reaching out to a mental health professional is important.
Okay, let's begin.
Number one, you are defined by a past.
It's easy to compare your current self to the person
you were before the traumatic event happened.
If a traumatic event happened over a long period of time,
like in an abusive relationship,
it can be hard to separate your personality
from the things you did to adapt during the traumatic event.
But while this traumatic event will always
be a part of your story.
You're not wholly defined by what happened to you.
Spending too much time reliving your past
is what limits your ability to heal, grow,
and work towards building your future.
Number two, your trauma makes you think you're damaged.
Another common harmful belief
is that your trauma makes you damaged.
This mentality is toxic because it devalues
the parts of your identity outside of your trauma
and equates trauma with brokenness
when it's really a normal reaction
to an extremely stressful situation.
Although, you will never be the person you were
before you experienced the traumatic event,
that doesn't mean you'll never heal.
It's important to remember that you don't have to go through
your healing journey alone.
You can seek help from friends and family,
support groups, or a licensed therapist.
Number three, you think you have to carry with you
the shame of your mistakes.
After a traumatic event, it's easy to replay your actions
in your mind and blame the negative outcomes
of a complex situation on your mistakes.
And while taking accountability for your actions
so that you can better learn from them is good.
Worrying and obsessing over your mistakes
can lead to a fear of failure, avoidance behaviors,
and even slower recovery from PTSD
or other traumatic effects.
So, while guilt is a normal part of the trauma response,
it's vital to remember that you can't change the past,
no matter how much you want to.
Beating yourself up over common mistakes
can take a toll on your mental health.
Everyone makes mistakes.
It's how you learn from them and act on them
in the future that matters.
Number four, you think your trauma or mistakes
are what keeps others from loving you.
Healing from trauma is emotionally exhausting.
Things may trigger you unexpectedly.
You may get frustrated with yourself,
or you may feel worthless,
and struggle with self-confidence.
The healing process isn't a straight line
and it's normal to have setbacks and bad days
where it feels like you haven't made any progress.
All these experiences can make you feel
like you're difficult to love or like your significant other
deserve someone who's unbroken by trauma.
This mentality is harmful
because it puts unattainable expectations
on yourself that you think you need to meet
before you're able to accept love.
This can lead to trust issues and self sabotaging
your relationships.
Number five, you think what happened to you
has to dictate your future.
There's no denying that events from your past
influence your present opportunities.
Some paths may be closed off to you
because of traumatic events that you've lived through.
For example, if you were cheated on by a lover,
you may never be able to fully trust them again.
Mourning the future you could have had
is part of the grieving process.
And it's also part of the healing process from trauma.
But if you find yourself thinking that you can't achieve
your goals because of your trauma and the effects
of traumatic event, you may be self sabotaging
your chances and the future you want.
And number six, you think your trauma makes you less worthy.
Finally, thinking that your past makes you less worthy
can also harm your mental health.
Living through traumatic experiences might leave you
feeling like there's something wrong with you
or that the trauma was somehow your fault.
During the healing process, it sometimes feels
like you'll never be whole again.
And it can be easy to fall into unhealthy comparisons
between yourself and other trauma survivors
or even people who've never experienced trauma.
These thoughts are harmful because they base your self-worth
on your past experiences and not your personal progress
and intrinsic worth.
Just because you're dealing with the effects of trauma
does not mean you're undeserving of opportunities
or have less to contribute
than those who have never had a traumatic experience.
Traumatic experiences shaped your life
and the lives of the people around you.
If you've been through a traumatic event
or are currently processing your emotions
and trauma responses, know that you are not alone.
Seeking help from a licensed mental health professional,
support group, or other communities
are great options if you need support
on your healing journey.
Do you relate to any of these beliefs
mentioned in this video?
I did.
Let us turn the comments below
and don't forget to like and share this video
if it helped you and you think
it would help someone else too.
The studies and references used
are listed in the description below.
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Thank you for watching and we'll see you next time.