You can’t heal from trauma until you’re ready to truly live. I know this by experience with so many illnesses and traumas in my life. At the age of 50, I was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer and given a six percent chance of survival. No one gave me this news at the time, but I learned it when I was cancer-free. Was I shocked? Absolutely, especially since I was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer three years later.
Many people have asked how I survived. To answer their questions, I wrote a book titled, Never Give Up: Break the Connection Between Stress and Illness, and created a self-survival program called T.R.U.T.H. (The Road to Unresolved Trauma Healing). Both of these projects list over 100 ways you can expand and intensify your healing from trauma.
Here are some tools I recommend:
- Never ever give up no matter how bad things are going.
- Be truthful to yourself as to why you are ill or traumatized. We all play a part in our illnesses and traumas.
- Find meaningful ways to forgive yourself for the trauma you experienced. Remember the golden rule: You are not responsible and did not cause your trauma!
- Seek professional support for medical issues and emotional distress.
- Never call yourself bad, stupid, or ignorant because you aren’t. Start calling yourself beautiful, lovely, and amazing.
- Lower your stress level by listening to music, yoga, or painting.
- Learn to love yourself for who you are.
- Be authentic with your feelings.
- Realize that anger is natural and healthy, hiding it causes medical and psychological issues.
- Talk to someone about your fears, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When you work on these tools you’ll start to understand that you can beat fear, resolve past trauma, and live the life you’ve always wanted. I know from experience that life is so much more satisfying when you shred the trauma and put your energy into creating the life you want. “Impossible†you say. No, not at all. When you focus on balancing your mind, body, and spirit you can do miraculous things like find joy, strengthen your immune system, and energize your life.
I did! And now I’m living the life I’ve always wanted. You can too! Use the tools found in Never Give Up: Break the Connection Between Stress and Illness, and T.R.U.T.H. Program. Both are available on the Healing Tools page.
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Alexis Acker-Halbur is an award-winning author and medical miracle. Child abuse made her seriously ill and put her in harm’s way many times. She survived and shares her experiences and tools with women and men who have been traumatized.
