What Does It Mean To Heal?
After experiencing sexual assault, or any form of trauma, it’s likely that you’ve heard conversations about healing from the traumatic event. But, what does it mean to heal from trauma, and what does it look like?
What does it mean to heal from trauma?
Everyone defines what it means to heal from trauma in their own way. Healing is a process. The process and steps can look different for everyone, and it is neither linear nor universal. The same methods that work for one person won’t necessarily work for someone else, and someone’s healing journey doesn’t always go in a straight line.
A good way to view healing is to think about it as a practice, not a task with a fixed end point or date. Healing from trauma isn’t always complete and definite, and we must learn to incorporate our healing strategies into our everyday lives.
Viewing the concept of healing as a personally tailored experience rather than a one-size-fits-all set of steps can be both daunting and freeing. It’s okay if you feel overwhelmed, lost, or as though it would be easier if there was a definitive set of steps. However, defining your own concept of healing means that you get to try different methods, and that if something doesn’t work for you personally, it doesn’t mean you won’t be able to heal.
Healing isn’t linear.
What does this mean? Oftentimes, people believe that the only way to heal is to continue straight forward, and that the worsening of symptoms, the development of new symptoms, or a bad day means that they’ve made no progress at all. In reality, healing is a series of ups and downs and we shouldn’t measure it as all or nothing.
Creating your personal definition of “healing.”
One of the first things to think about on your healing journey is to define what healing looks like for you, while keeping in mind it is a process and not a state of being. It’s best to discuss this with a mental health professional, such as your therapist, if possible.
For some people, healing means that the symptoms they developed after trauma decrease, such as no longer engaging in maladaptive coping mechanisms. Others may want to feel as though they’ve regained control over their lives, or that the event no longer defines their everyday life. Healing, for some, means that they can think about the event or events without a visceral and painful reaction. Some people feel like they’d like to “do something” with what they’ve experienced, such as becoming an advocate or sharing their story publicly. Some want to grow, change, or evolve after trauma. For others, they just want to leave what happened in the past and get back to where they were before trauma occurred. Healing can look like accepting that what happened wasn’t their fault.
Take some time to think about what healing means to you. Here are some questions to consider to get started:
- What trauma symptoms affect me most?
- How has my perspective of myself and the world changed after trauma?
- How would I like to view myself and my place in the world?
- How would I like to view the world?
- How do I want to feel when I think about my trauma?
- What do I want my life to look like now that this event has happened?
Another way to develop your own definition of healing is to listen to the stories of other survivors and what healing looks like for them. See what resonates with you and craft a personalized definition.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
988 Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. We’re committed to improving crisis services and advancing suicide prevention by empowering individuals, advancing professional best practices, and building awareness.
National Sexual Assault Hotline
RAINN is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country.
Phone: 800-656-4673
Chat: Click here to chat
VictimConnect Resource Center
VictimConnect is a referral helpline where ALL crime victims can learn about their rights and options confidentially and compassionately.
Phone and text: 855-4-VICTIM
Online chat: Monday-Friday from 9am to 5pm EST
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