Helping Reverse the Aftereffects of Negative Trauma

I know it’s been a minute since I’ve posted but I’m just writing as God prompts—my once, regular, weekly Friday posts are on a break for an unknown period of time.

So here’s what I have this time, a little different than my usual posts…

A while ago my amazing counselor gave me an analogy and I thought it was too good to pass up sharing with those who may be struggling with past or even current trauma.

There are lengths of time where I feel I’m not making much progress toward the positive side in my mental and emotional healing. Or I’ll wonder why any negative thinking I might be struggling over mimics so much of my past trauma that’s decades old. As a side note I’m over thirty years past due on counseling sessions so there’s a lot at heart to sort out.

My counselor compared navigating negative thoughts and emotional patterns to the condition of a dirt road compromised by rain or snow—an easy analogy for me to grasp since the last part of the drive to our house consist of dirt roads which at times create less than desirable driving conditions.

A good dirt road is typically (or should be) smooth when well-maintained, but once it gets muddied up from loads of rain or inches of melting snow it makes navigating through it a chore, sometimes even causing a person to get stuck for a time in the deep mud. Once the road begins to dry out a little, ruts form as people drive over the soft road. When completely dried out and the rough path is traveled over, a person will likely bounce down into those deep laid, ruddy tracks.

Eventually, given enough time and favorable weather conditions for the roads, plus normal driving wear (and someone with a road maintainer) the dirt road gets filled back in, levels out and becomes smooth for ideal traveling once again. But it takes time…

When compared to the human mind (emotionally and mentally) and the complexities of trauma it’s similar to this…the mind is functioning in a healthy state until trauma hits. Oftentimes deep rutted trauma tracks with negative impacts are laid. The deeply embedded trauma tracks become a normal and habitual part of living life and left further untreated irrational thoughts and behaviors form, creating tough areas to cognitively navigate. It leaves us with a mess of unhealthy mental pathways.

The hopeful goal is that a person is made mindful of these negative effects, the sooner the better. Smooth paths is what one should be after. Reversing the negative deep-laid ruts is important and a lot of work BUT can happen by:

  • getting honest about any current or past struggles or thoughts
  • holding a strong faith in God which leads to hope
  • leaning into God’s truth and time spent in prayer
  • finding a compassionate accountability partner who’s supportive in our mental health
  • seeking professional maintenance through a trusted therapist (mine happens to be a sister in Christ which is a huge blessing for keeping God in the big picture)
Biblestudytools.com

Healthy thought patterns can and will eventually form but it requires a hope-filled attitude, communication, and time—and therefore an abundance of patience. The negative deep rutted trauma tracks need to be filled in with positivity, grace and mercy, forgiveness…whatever hostile void that has been laid must be replaced and filled with truth, hope and encouragement. Those things, and all things positive, reinforce new and true thought patterns and smooth pathways. Again it takes much patience and consistent affirmation.

Though the ruts may seem deeply entrenched, we must remember it’s Satan who attempts to take away hope, freedom, and joy in effort to create those trenches. But it’s the Lord who abundantly pours out an endless supply of each. Satan will never be able to keep up when we fully trust and allow God to fill in the negative trenches with His healing truth!!

This has to be an ongoing, daily-process because as 1 Peter 5:8 states, ‘we have an enemy, the devil, who prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.’ He would love nothing more than to dig back in, causing us to slip down into the ruts again and again.

Therefore, ‘we must be alert, standing firm in our faith, (believing God is for us and with us always) making us strong, firm, and steadfast!’ (1 Peter 5)

To Him, as our Great Road Maintainer, be the glory in the midst of healing.

Have a blessed weekend!

Author: alimw2013

About For His Purpose~ My name is Alicia and I'm a thirty-something year old who loves Jesus. Only through God’s amazing grace and mercy I have been redeemed from past regret and shame. Reading His word has allowed me to look past Satan’s forceful lies, to see myself for who Christ says I am in Him. Through writing I have learned why I made the choices I made in my younger years and I now have a better understanding of why I desire to love God like crazy these days. Despite my daily failures, God remains faithful always. I am reassured of His unconditional love for me by every ink-drop spilled out on paper, each committed prayer as I cry out to Him, and deep understanding reflected through reading His word as truth. Yes keeping a blog will make me vulnerable to others’ opinions- there will be some who don’t understand, some who may criticize or judge, but on the other hand if just one piece expressed through my writing grabs someone’s attention and directs them to God, then pouring out my heart in a blog for the world to read is worth it. I choose to glorify Him alone through words streaming across a glowing screen. And it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t reveal the fact that I’m incredibly quirky; I’m my loving husband’s best friend, my vivacious kids’ craziest cheerleader and spiritual trainer (3 John 1:4). I love anything farmhouse and rustic style. I think cupping a warm coffee mug in the palm of my hands is more satisfying than the contents within. I share a common obsession with my husband for the mountains, but I would (without a doubt) settle for waves crashing against my legs at the Atlantic Ocean just as well, and I almost always have a Yorkie curled up on my lap while writing. *All photos are photographed by forhispurpose.blog and therefore may not be stored or photocopied in any manner.

22 thoughts on “Helping Reverse the Aftereffects of Negative Trauma”

  2. Thank you so much for sharing this encouragement. I hope you don’t mind if I print it out and keep a copy in my journal. Lately I have been trying to steadily pave a smoother path. But it takes “much patience and consistent affirmation” as you said. Thank you for this. An excellent and inspiring post! 🙏♥️🙌

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. You’re very welcome! And yea feel free to copy, share, etc!!!
      I was nervous to post it because it’s a little different than my normal writings but I wanted to share it on the chance it might help someone…and all in all that’s what this blog is about anyway…and for His purpose.

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. I understand what you mean. It makes me nervous to post something different as well. And you are absolutely right – like the name of your blog, it’s for His purpose. I love that reminder. ✝️

        Liked by 1 person

  5. It’s so much healthier to finally get our feelings out, instead of carrying them forever deep within our soul. Wishing you much healing, Alicia. Soon. Jesus loves you, my friend! You can do this! 🤗 💜

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  6. I love this!! It really is so easy to slip back into the ruts that have formed in our minds. But what you said is so true, that Satan cannot keep up with God’s grace and work in our minds and hearts. Thank you for sharing all this, Alicia, and may God continue to heal and grow you in His grace.

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    1. Thank you Patty for your words of encouragement in my healing process.

      I’m thankful the post came out in a way that people could follow the analogy, I wasn’t sure I could explain it very well but by your comment I know you could follow and by what others have commented. Obviously God was guiding it all along!! Praise to Him! I hope it benefits those who need it!

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  7. I really like the dirt road analogy. Thank you so much for sharing that. It’s a great way of explaining how important it is to keep on the journey of healing without slipping back into the rut of negativity and doubt. Specially when you don’t see immediate results. I loved your writing style as well. Good luck on your journey, I wish you achieve all your goals in therapy.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thank you for you support and kind words Bhavana. I’m thankful people can understand this post, as I was writing I wasn’t sure it’d make sense to anyone else but the words must’ve came together after all..have a wonderful Tuesday.

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  8. That analogy of a rutted road to our habitual thought patterns is brilliant! I too thank you for sharing it. Thank you also for sharing about your journey toward a smooth road. Kudos to you for your perseverance! When you mentioned 1 Peter 5:8 I was reminded of what I heard a counseling-trainer say years ago: The devil prowls around like a lion, but his teeth were pulled at Calvary!

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