The trauma happened so long ago. Yet, it can feel like those events occurred yesterday.

In order to cope, you have created a life in which you don’t have to face anything related to that trauma. This is called avoidance.

The idea is to keep at a distance any type of reminder that could cause you to think back on that difficult time. Perhaps it’s making sure you don’t drive by that intersection where you had a car accident. Or, you never watch a war movie because it contains too many reminders of your time spent in combat.

Whatever the reason, avoidance isn’t a long-term solution, and can even make things worse. Here’s why avoidance is so problematic, and how you can start healing.

It Makes Sense to Practice Avoidance

When you think about it, avoidance, to some degree makes sense. What you went through was terrible. Why on earth would you want to have any reminders of it? If you do experience a triggering event, even a minor one, it has the power to bring your mind back to that trauma. So, if you don’t want to have those moments, it makes sense that you would try to avoid them. But does that really help you?

Why Avoidance and PTSD is a Problem

The essence of why avoidance is such a problem, in terms of PTSD, is that it only provides a temporary solution to a deep-rooted problem. When you avoid an issue, whether it’s connected to PTSD or not, it doesn’t go away. It may be in hiding, or you may be able to keep it at arm’s length. But, ultimately, the effects of your PTSD will still come roaring back. This, despite your best attempts to avoid it.

If your PTSD remains untreated, this will continue to occur and significantly impact the quality of your life.

How to Start Healing from PTSD

There are several things that you can do on your own to start the healing from PTSD. For example:

Practicing radical acceptance. You are okay. What you went through was terrible, but it doesn’t have to define you. You are not “broken.”
Breathing exercises to cope when you do get stressed. Such exercises will help you to stay in control.
Talking to a friend or loved one about your PTSD. They can be great supports for when you are struggling and just need to share.

It also helps to examine other aspects of your life that you might be using to cope with PTSD. Yet, they may not be the healthiest choices. At the very top, is your relationship with alcohol and/or drugs. If you are using substances to cope or to avoid thoughts and feelings related to PTSD, it might be time to seek help.

Professional Support for PTSD

Ultimately, in order to resolve trauma and PTSD, professional support and counseling is needed. Working with a therapist can help you to not just better cope. The objective will be to bring closure to that time in your past. That way, those memories are no longer painful and reminders of the trauma lose their power to affect you. There are several ways this can happen:

Cognitive Processing Therapy: A technique that helps you to better understand your feelings and thoughts about your trauma. This way they no longer are distressing.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): This method uses eye movements combined with suggestions to help your brain process trauma and store it in your memory.

Simply coping with PTSD doesn’t mean that you are living a fulfilled life. Are you changing your behavior through avoidance? Do you do anything you can to not think about the trauma? Recovery is, understandably, a tough proposition to tackle alone. But with the support of a caring and thoughtful therapist, it is possible. It’s time for professional support. Find out today how trauma therapy can help you.