My Top Tip for Mental Health and Trauma Recovery
from decades of lived expertise recovering from major depression and complex trauma
Hey, I am so glad you're here.
I want to share something that I wish had been shared with me when I first started on my mental health and trauma recovery journey years ago.
It may seem too basic and simple to be a top tip but shifting how I saw my healing process made a huge difference in my day to day attitude toward healing and more importantly my perception of myself. It was so impactful that I want to share it with you.
While I think a health and wellness mindset can be helpful for all humans, we are all unique so our recovery and wellness journey will be our own. Having said that, there are foundational principles that seem to be universal. Here's my top tip regardless of what you are recovering from (and weāre all recovering from something by the way).
recovery is a lifestyle
One of your body feeling safe enough and supported, so that it can find balance. The details will be unique to you but it often involves a journey of self-discovery and care. Perhaps reconnecting to your inner self, your body, and figuring out what tools help support your needs day to day or moment to moment.
Your recovery and wellness is what you define it to be. If youāre having trouble with that it might help to try to envision yourself in recovery. To be well or well enough. What does that look like for you?
I first tasted recovery from major depression 17 years ago in my late 20s after starting therapy but no one taught me how to maintain it. I kept chasing the day that I'd be done healing. Little did I know at that time that the healing really never stops.
After a few more depressive episodes over the years I finally found my way and have been in long term recovery. My lifestyle will either help or hurt me so I do my best to choose the help. My daily habits (especially nutrition, movement and sleep) help me maintain my mental health, support my complex trauma healing, and allow me to thrive. Of course I still have my ups and downs because that's normal and I'm human. It's nothing like it used to be though and much more manageable, which I am SO GRATEFUL for.
As for my trauma healing journey, wellā¦ thatās very much like peeling the layers of an onion. I never know what might come up for me in therapy, what in life will be a trigger, etc. So Iāve learned (after many, many years) to accept the ups and downs and just ride lifeās waves the best I can in that moment. And if my best is surviving, then I celebrate that too.
Celebrate recovery.
Sending you lots of healing vibes,
Viv
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