Healing from Trauma Boosts Relationship Joy

Trauma happens. It’s not something people often talk about. Possibly, someone you’ve been getting to know and like, your relationship partner, or your spouse has experienced a horrific life changing event, such as a sudden or violent death or suicide of someone close, physical or sexual abuse, bullying, violence, (domestic or family, war or political), a life-threatening illness, or something else. Healing takes both time and a willingness to face the trauma, whether it’s old, recent, large, or small. We cannot force readiness to deal with trauma. Each of us has our own timetable, which should be respected. The Power of Empathic Listening The best thing you can do as a relationship partner is to be available to listen when the trauma survivor needs to and is ready to talk. We can’t overestimate the power of simply being there for another person, showing quiet empathy. Encouraging remarks, such as “That much have been so hard for you to have gone through _________ (say what the person experienced), or ““I hear you saying this is really hard for you right now,” show empathy. He (or she) may fear he has burdened or disturbed you by talking about his experience. He’s likely to feel relieved and validated if you thank him for sharing it with you. Therapy Can Support Recovery Various therapy approaches help people recover from trauma. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) helps many people heal from the emotional distress resulting from disturb...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Bullying Psychology PTSD Relationships Trauma Treatment Active Listening Dating Divorce Empathic listening Intimacy Marriage Source Type: blogs