• Military and Substance Abuse
• Trauma Addiction: Safety and Stabilization for the Addicted Survivor of Trauma
• Don't Make it Worse! Use of Alcohol or Drugs After Trauma
• Secret Diet Disasters of Trauma Survivors

• Trauma and the Post-Institutionalized Child - Adoption and Trauma Related issues

• Surviving the Crash: Stress Reactions of Motor Vehicle Accident Victims
• The Emotional Toll of Motor Vehicle Accidents on Truck Drivers

• Supporting Our Soldiers-PTSD Info For Chaplains
• Reintegration & Readjustment Program For Iraqi Veterans: for officers returning from the war in Iraq.
• Cop Talk: Beating the Holiday Blues
• The Echoes of Violence in The Police Family
• POLICE SUICIDE: Understanding Grief & Loss
• Confidentiality in Counseling: What Police Officers Need To Know
• Police Officers: Traumatic Spending: A Reaction to Critical Incident Stress
• Paramedics and Burnout: Coping and Prevention Suggestions

• On Being Invisible In The Mental Health System
• The Nature of the Child
• Traumatic Stress and Children
• Stress Responses in Sexual Trauma Victims and in Others Experiencing Overwhelming Events
• CHILDHOOD AND ADULT SEXUAL VICTIMIZATION: Living in the Aftermath of Transgression and Quest for Restoration of the Self

• Nurses and Compassion Fatigue
• Preventing Compassion Fatigue: Power Point Presentation
• Professional Quality of Life Manual (ProQOL)
• Understanding and Preventing Compassion Fatigue - A Handout - For Professionals
• Supporting Our Soldiers - PTSD Info For Chaplains
• The Art and Science of Caring for Others without Forgetting Self-Care
• Compassion Fatigue: An Introduction
• The MASTERS Process: Transforming Your Career and Life
• Compassion Fatigue: A Crucible Of Transformation
• When Helping Hurts
• Vicarious Trauma in Attorneys
• Bosnia's Death Highway: My Personal Story of Trauma Work, Compassion Fatigue and Hope.

• Domestic Violence and the Gay Community: A Right to Peace and Safety
• I Was Raped: A Survivor explores an accusation that has divided the Spelman and Morehouse family
• Treating People of Varied Cultures: Honoring the Individual in Context
• Surviving and Thriving: Understanding Asian Americans' Experiences of Relationship Trauma
• Latinas in Pursuit of Healing: Cultural Implications for Counseling Sexually Abused Latinas
• I Will Survive: The African-American Guide to Healing from Sexual Assault and Abuse (excerpt)
• Trauma in American Indian Communities
• Challenges and Obstacles in Treating Mentally Ill African American Patients

• Military Sexual Trauma
• Legal Tools for Survivors of Sexual Assault
• Art Exhibit: A Woman's Journey from Domestic Violence Victim to Survivor
• Acquaintance Rape: A Matter of Consent
• I Will Survive: The African-American Guide to Healing from Sexual Assault and Abuse (excerpt)
• Rape Trauma Syndrome: The Journey to Healing Belongs to Everyone
• Peaceful Heart: A Woman's Journey of Healing After Rape
• Dealing with Domestic Abuse: Lessons from Kathy
• The Ties That Bind Captive to Captor- Stockholm Syndrome
• Understanding the Victims of Spousal Abuse

• Will Trauma Grief Counseling Help?
• Exorcising Ghosts: The Counting Method and Traumatic Death Imagery
• Help for the Holidays: Ideas for the Bereaved
• Understanding Different Grieving Patterns in Your Family
• Sudden Loss - Impact of a grief-crisis intervention immediately after a sudden violent death on the survivor's ability to cope.
• Recovery From Unnatural Death
• Psychotherapy of Bereavement After Homicide: Be Offensive

• The Emotional Impact of Reporting War at Home
• A Primer on Covering Victims
• PTSD 101 for Journalists
• Three Acts of Trauma News
• Survivors and the Media

• Domestic Violence Against Men: Bryan's Story
• Suffering in Silence: The Problem of Male Sexual Abuse
• Wounded Boys/Heroic Men: A Man's Guide to Recovering from Child Abuse

• PTSD and Family Members: The Hidden Face of PTSD
• Partners with PTSD

• Understanding Complex Trauma, Complex Reactions, and Treatment Approaches
• Major Depressive Disorder: A Condition That Frequently Co-Occurs with PTSD
• Exposure To A Traumatic Event Does Not Automatically Put A Person On A Path To Develop PTSD: The Importance of Protective Factors To Promote Resiliency
• Applying the Brakes - Traumatic Memories
• Finding a Good Lawyer for Your Traumatized Client
• Posttraumatic Therapy
• The Counting Method for Ameliorating Traumatic Memories
• Stress Responses in Sexual Trauma Victims and in Others Experiencing Overwhelming Events Helpful Strategies for Self, Children, Supporters, and What Trauma Therapists Really Do
• The Counting Method as Exposure Therapy: Revisions and Case Examples
• Trauma & Recovery: an REBT Perspective
• Listening to the Lessons of Survivors. Sharing their Truths and their Lessons

• Life After Breast Cancer: Surviving & Thriving
• How to Improve Strength and Mobility without Really Exercising
• Exercise and Aging
• Fibromyalgia: What It Is And How To Manage It
• How Exercise Helps Symptoms Of PTSD
• Menopause Is A Natural Part Of A Woman's Lifecycle

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the Workplace What Employers and Coworkers Need to Know

• Healing the Invisible Wound
• Trauma Survivors Share Tips for Therapists Dealing with Trauma
• Open Letter to Trauma Survivors
• How to Choose a Trauma Therapist: Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress (PTSD) and Dissociative Conditions
• Helping A Person Who Is Suicidal
• S.V.'s Story: My Survival From Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Survivors, How To Write Your Personal History
• Finding The Right Therapist For You
• Anniversary Reactions: A Survivor's Guide on How to Cope
• Healing from Shame Associated with Traumatic Events
• Ninth Grader Interviews Frank Ochberg on PTSD
• How to Cope with PTSD and the Holiday Season

• Cultivating Resiliency in Youth
• Cultivating Resiliency
• The Resilient Child

• Helping Traumatized Children at School
• Inner City Children of Trauma: Urban Violence Traumatic Stress Response Syndrome (U-VTS) and Therapists' Responses
• School Disaster: Planning and Initial Interventions
• Bound By A Trauma Called Columbine

• Posttraumatic Stress, Mental Health Professionals, and the Clergy: A Need for Collaboration, Training, and Research
• How to Provide Spiritually Sensitive Trauma Care
• "Trauma and Spirituality"

• Guilt Following Traumatic Events

• Utilizing First Person Story with Trauma Survivors in Bosnia and Sri Lanka: Metaphors create a symbolic congruence that is 'inclusive' and universal across cultures
• GFW Founder, Frank Ochberg spent a week in Sri Lanka Helping
• Hurricane Opens Trauma Wounds
• 9-11 ANNIVERSARY REACTIONS: An interview with Frank Ochberg, M.D.
• Victims of Disasters: Helping People Recover From Acute Distress to Healing and Integration
• Terrorism: September 11, 2001. "Trauma, Grief, and Recovery"

• Finding Hope after Head Injury and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
• Military and Substance Abuse
• Military Sexual Trauma
• Suicide and the Military
• Military PTSD Family Resources
• Will Trauma Grief Counseling Help?
• Preventing Compassion Fatigue: What Veteran Spouse/Partner Caregivers Need to Know
• Keeping Your Relationship Healthy When Your Veteran Spouse/Partner Is Injured
• Issues and Answers on the Home Front
• Veterans and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Conversation with Dr Frank Ochberg
• Post Traumatic Stress and the Military
• There's Nothing Wrong With Me!
  

How does one discuss Spirituality in the same breath as Trauma? Can they both coincide? The answer to these questions cannot be revealed in an article or by anyone else but the survivor. This article is about Spirituality and how the survivor can reclaim it in his or her life. It is often said that "if there was a God, why did _____ happen?" This article is not about philosophical answers and does not wish to push any religious agenda. It is not about God unless the survivor called his or her Higher Power God. It is about defining what spirituality in one's life and being able to draw strength from it.

Trauma can cause a disconnection from various parts of a person's being. This disconnect happens as a defense mechanism again feeling the effects of the trauma. Unfortunately, this disconnect can also be prolonged and present itself in survivor's relationships with family, friends, and a Higher Power. In this complex world, it is best to have full access to all of them to survive.

Many survivors of trauma become angry at God or the Entity they believe in. There are questions such as; "Where were you?" "Why didn't you protect me?" or simply, "Why me?" Survivors may feel as if they are broken or not worthy of love. It seems like having a connection is for those who are able to have faith and trust.

For many survivors, it is important to recapture their spirituality in order to aid their healing. It is essential that they be given permission to create a Higher Power of their understanding. It is possible to create a new connection, one that is based on love, acceptance, and safety. These qualities are often shaken when an individual experiences trauma. They are replaced with feelings of judgment and shame.

Here are some suggestions on reclaiming one's spirituality. It is not meant to be exhaustive nor will it feel right for every individual. It is suggested that you do this with a friend, counselor, or spiritual advisor. It may help to confront one's trauma with someone else's help. It may be a place too scary to go alone.

Step One: Validate the effects the trauma has had on your life.

Trauma affects lives in so many different ways. It is important to honor how it has affected yours. It may have had an impact on your relationships, self-esteem, feelings of safety, and the list could go on ad nauseam. These are scars that only you know about and it's time to share them with others and lessen the shame associated with them.

• Physical
• Emotional
• Sexual
• Relational
• Self-esteem
• Financial
• Occupational

Step Two: Write a list of characteristics you want in a Higher Power or Spiritual practice.

There are no boundaries here. You have the right and permission to create a Higher Power of your understanding who you always wanted and needed. One suggestion is to think of characteristics you want in a best friend or a parent.

• Write a list of characteristics of a friend or someone you know whom you admire or feel safe with.
• Write out a list of characteristics of your new Higher Power.

Step Three: Surround yourself with a loving and understanding person with whom you can share your spiritual journey.

This is a delicate matter, you want to choose someone you see practicing spirituality themselves. You want someone you can be honest with about your experience and how you are feeling. You may want a survivor him or herself.

Exercise:
• Tell someone you trust that you need his or her help.
• Share some of your journaling exercises with this individual.
• Initiate a conversation on how they found spirituality.

Journal Exercise:
• Journal what it felt like to tell someone about what had happened and discuss the concept of spirituality and what you may have learned from this conversation.

Step Four: Recognize your Spirituality or Higher Power.

Try and envision your Higher Power. Next, recognize where you see your Higher Power or witness Spirituality in the world. Make a list of characteristics that you see in daily life that is evidence of a spiritual presence. An example of this is seeing the concept of "peace" within the ocean or witnessing "strength" in the eyes of a child. Make your Spirituality or Higher Power something you can see in your daily life.

• Write out what your Higher Power looks like, feels like and smells like.
• Write down some things that your Higher Power would say to you.
• Recognize in the world where you see evidence of the characteristics of your Higher Power. There are an infinite number of answers to this question.

Step Five: Communicate with your Higher Power.

Have a dialogue with this new Higher Power on a regular basis. Write letters if it best suits you. Remember, there is not wrong way to have a dialogue.

• Write out a few things you say on a daily basis. These can be "prayers" or take the form of affirmations. Type them up and put them in places where you will see them daily. Be specific. If there is something that you are struggling with, write a prayer or affirmation about it.
• Note where you see your Higher Power work in your life. If you are able to get through something that was difficult and feel as if a Presence got you through it or may have contributed to your strength then write it down. Perhaps you felt an instance of peace where you used to have none. Put it on paper. Feel the presence in your life.

Amy Menna has a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and Certified Addictions Professional. She is in private practice and lives in Tampa, Florida. She is available by email at amymenna@aol.com.

Tweet