Connect with others, trauma victims adviced
A speech therapist, Mrs Maryam Maifada, has warned that traumatised persons who isolated themselves risked falling into depression. Speaking to a Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria in Kaduna on Tuesday, she explained that most cases of suicide were preceded by depression, occasioned by self isolation.
She described trauma as an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape or natural disaster. “While these feelings are normal, some people have difficulty in moving on with their lives; psychologists can help such individuals find constructive ways of managing their emotions”, she said.
She listed the types of trauma to include emotional and psychological. Emotional and psychological trauma are the result of extraordinarily stressful events that shatter ones sense of security, making him or her feel helpless in a dangerous world.
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“Psychological trauma can leave you struggling with upsetting emotions, memories, and anxiety that would not go away; it can also leave you feeling numb, disconnected, and unable to trust other people while emotional trauma is a normal response to a disturbing event, it becomes Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), when your nervous system gets “stuck” and you remain in psychological shock,”,she analysed.
She therefore, advised such people not to isolate themselves. “Connecting to others face-to-face will help you heal, so make an effort to maintain your relationships and avoid spending too much time alone.” she said.
Maifada, however, said recovering from trauma might sometimes take time, advising that if months passed and there were still symptoms, one might need professional help from a trauma expert She added that exercises could also help in trauma healing.
Exercise or move, jump up and down, swing your arms and legs, or just flail around; your head will be clear and you will find it easier to connect”, she said.
She stressed that traumatised persons should stop talking about their experiences, but rather engage in conversations with people.
(NAN)
