Covina Community Church

Trauma might be best defined as:

A state of being caused by change, either sudden or prolonged, that leaves you living in a new reality that you did not chose. 

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Trauma will include:

• Physiological and emotional responses in our body. 

• A process of seeking an explanation and giving meaning to the experience. 

• Continued processing and honing of our personal story or narrative about the event.

• Imagining how to avoid or protect from such future events.

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Trauma is complicated by:

• Not dealing with the physical trauma energy or repressing our emotions.

• Obsessing on blame and not seeking a deeper understanding.

• Dehumanizing ourselves or others as we place blame or justify our own hurtful behaviors. 

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Our hurts can be addressed through many spiritual and relational and self care practices:

• Exercise

• Sharing our honest emotions

• Journaling and reflecting

• Practicing empathy

• Offering grace to ourselves and others

• Risking vulnerability and building relationships

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