What To Do After Witnessing a Traumatic Event...
Let me cut to the chase: You may want try EMDR Early Intervention Therapy!
But before we get to EMDR Early Intervention, let’s start from the beginning…
You just witnessed a terrible and traumatic event
You’re in shock and feel overwhelmed.
You don’t know what to do or how to get back to your normal life!
After a distressing incident, it can be difficult to function, much less know what are the healthy next steps to take.
What To Do After Witnessing a Traumatic Event?
First, let me just normalize your feelings!
It’s normal to feel scared, angry, or numb after something terrible happens in your life.
It’s also totally normal to feel a great deal of anxiety depression, and hopelessness.
After you are certain that you are physically safe, it’s important to turn to take engage in some major self-care.
Turning to people who love and care about you is an important step.
Sharing your story over and over again is proven to be helpful.
Trying to get sleep and exercise is also a good idea.
Additionally, I’d encourage you to consider doing EMDR.
What Is EMDR Early Intervention?
EMDR early intervention includes two tiers of psychological support.
It is both a treatment and a form of prevention.
In terms of treatment, it helps to make sense of fragmented pieces of the traumatic event.
The traumatic pieces that your brain stores don’t just include don’t just include images and sounds, but also emotions, thoughts, sensations, and beliefs.
When your brain holds on to these disturbing pieces of the trauma...
…it can be quite triggering when your body feels similar sensations, emotions, scents, scenes, and thoughts to that of the original traumatic event.
EMDR helps to integrate the disturbing pieces into a more coherent narrative of the event.
In doing this, it allows the brain to have a broader understanding of the event with increased insight into the event.
In other words, it helps put the pieces of the story together in a helpful way that provides both perspective and relief.
Research has demonstrated that this perspective and relief is long-lasting.
Therefore, by seeking help early, it can decrease or prevent the lasting triggers associated with PTSD.
Hopefully, you now have a sense of what to do after witnessing a traumatic event
and you’re ready to give therapy a go!
Free free to contact me directly if you have questions or to schedule a brief call to see if I might be able to support you as you journey forward.
Jill
Looking for mental health services in Indy?
As a marriage and family therapist, I also offer:
Relationship Counseling
Individual Counseling