A severe trauma or being prolonged or repeatedly exposed to traumatic events can affect the mood and feelings. It’s common to no longer enjoy things or activities one used to, or to be tired and exhausted all the time. Cheer-up attempts by friends and family usually don’t succeed or are only successful in the short term.
It’s common to feel:
- worthless
- hopeless and flawed
- despicable
- permanently emotionally damaged
- undesirable
- or see themselves as a “bad” person
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Tips
- Try to talk to your friends and family about your feelings and worries. Talking about it often feels liberating and thus helps.
- Try to take up a hobby (again) and to meet up with friends again. Studies show that social support can be of big help to deal with problems in the aftermath of traumatic events.
- Keep a diary to sort your thoughts, feelings and worries.
- Try sport to clear your head from all the thoughts and worries.