People suck at talking about hard things.
So most people don't understand a life-changing fact about trauma.
Learn this and I guarantee you'll look at life — and each other — in a new way.
I know I did.
So most people don't understand a life-changing fact about trauma.
Learn this and I guarantee you'll look at life — and each other — in a new way.
I know I did.
I know what you're thinking.
Trauma only happens to soldiers and victims.
That's not you.
So while you might sympathize with their situation, you can't relate.
Not really.
This isn't a topic you need to spend much time learning about.
But that's where you're wrong.
Trauma only happens to soldiers and victims.
That's not you.
So while you might sympathize with their situation, you can't relate.
Not really.
This isn't a topic you need to spend much time learning about.
But that's where you're wrong.
Turns out there are two kinds of trauma.
There's (big T) Trauma.
It's what immediately comes to mind when you hear the word.
The kind that causes PTSD — violence, war, assault.
Situations that few of us have fully experienced.
It's Life or Death stuff.
There's (big T) Trauma.
It's what immediately comes to mind when you hear the word.
The kind that causes PTSD — violence, war, assault.
Situations that few of us have fully experienced.
It's Life or Death stuff.
But there's another kind: (little t) trauma.
That kind is far more common.
- A messy divorce
- A toxic relationship
- Chronic health issues
- Extended money troubles
- Being bullied or neglected
Lower level stress that persists.
Or multiple shorter struggles back-to-back.
That kind is far more common.
- A messy divorce
- A toxic relationship
- Chronic health issues
- Extended money troubles
- Being bullied or neglected
Lower level stress that persists.
Or multiple shorter struggles back-to-back.
We've been taught to tough these situations out.
Find the silver lining.
Pick your chin up.
Keep moving.
Be strong.
We do NOT treat them like Trauma.
But they still have a similar effect on our brains AND our behavior.
Especially if we were kids when it happened.
Find the silver lining.
Pick your chin up.
Keep moving.
Be strong.
We do NOT treat them like Trauma.
But they still have a similar effect on our brains AND our behavior.
Especially if we were kids when it happened.
By refusing to properly process our traumatic experiences,
we are doomed to suffer from their effects.
What we think is resilience is, instead, avoidance.
I learned this lesson the hard way.
we are doomed to suffer from their effects.
What we think is resilience is, instead, avoidance.
I learned this lesson the hard way.
In 4 years, I had my own selection of traumas:
- Emotionally abusive marriage
- Messy divorce
- Lyme disease diagnosis
- Business partner betrayal
- Career burnout
Everyone marveled at my grit, resilience, and positive attitude.
But I wasn't strong.
I was hiding.
- Emotionally abusive marriage
- Messy divorce
- Lyme disease diagnosis
- Business partner betrayal
- Career burnout
Everyone marveled at my grit, resilience, and positive attitude.
But I wasn't strong.
I was hiding.
Then I experienced my first 'Big T' Trauma.
For the first time, I gave myself permission to process my pain.
- To let myself cry
- Lean into my grief
- Fully feel my emotions
- And finally, start to heal
I did NOT expect what I would learn.
Or how it would change me.
For the first time, I gave myself permission to process my pain.
- To let myself cry
- Lean into my grief
- Fully feel my emotions
- And finally, start to heal
I did NOT expect what I would learn.
Or how it would change me.
The hardest part of recovery was not the dog attack.
Once I opened the door to trauma, I couldn't control what came barrelling through.
I started peeling back the layers of repressed emotion.
Delving the depths of my psyche.
But what rested beneath made it all worth it.
Once I opened the door to trauma, I couldn't control what came barrelling through.
I started peeling back the layers of repressed emotion.
Delving the depths of my psyche.
But what rested beneath made it all worth it.
Suddenly, the core of who I was,
the real, unvarnished, authentic me,
began to shine through.
I had been hiding beneath layers of trauma responses.
- Protective armor
- Coping mechanisms
- Avoidance strategies
And now I was free.
the real, unvarnished, authentic me,
began to shine through.
I had been hiding beneath layers of trauma responses.
- Protective armor
- Coping mechanisms
- Avoidance strategies
And now I was free.
I won't kid you. Life didn't magically become easier.
But it did become simpler.
And more meaningful.
It's why I insist on talking about things no one else wants to.
- Pain
- Loss
- Grief
- Struggle
- And Trauma
But especially the beautiful growth that can come out of it.
But it did become simpler.
And more meaningful.
It's why I insist on talking about things no one else wants to.
- Pain
- Loss
- Grief
- Struggle
- And Trauma
But especially the beautiful growth that can come out of it.
Leaning into my pain, so I could finally understand, process, and release it,
Was my liberation.
It's why I tell people that my attack was my blessing.
If you're avoiding something in your past...
I promise,
facing it will be the best decision you ever make. 🖤🖤🖤
Was my liberation.
It's why I tell people that my attack was my blessing.
If you're avoiding something in your past...
I promise,
facing it will be the best decision you ever make. 🖤🖤🖤
That's my story.
I hope you learned something life changing.
If you did:
1. Follow me @ABetterJones for more about resilience and growth
2. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter (pinned in my profile)
3. RT the tweet below to share this thread with your audience
I hope you learned something life changing.
If you did:
1. Follow me @ABetterJones for more about resilience and growth
2. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter (pinned in my profile)
3. RT the tweet below to share this thread with your audience
If you like this tweet, you will love my weekly emails where I share stories, lessons, and frameworks I've learned as I work to become the best version of myself.
newsletter.highgrowthfounders.com
newsletter.highgrowthfounders.com
Loading suggestions...