Signs of unresolved trauma can show up in our lives in different ways.
Here are 4 ways it might be showing up in your morning routine.
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That heightened stress after waking up can exacerbate trauma responses and behaviors.
As for how exactly trauma shows up in the a.m., it depends on the person.
As such, trauma symptomatology will also differ from person to person.
Anjali Gowda Ferguson, Ph.D., LCP, is a licensed clinical psychologist and trauma expert.
In some cases, we upwardly compare [ourselves] to others, she says.
For instance, we might aspire to be like someone else, or view that person as having more.
In other cases, we [downwardly] compare ourselvesthat is, we compare to others worse-off than ourselves.
Both of these forms of comparison, Dr. Ferguson adds, can motivate behavior and mood.
Used positively, she says, comparison can help motivate growth and positive changes within ourselves.
Conversely, comparison can lead to viewing yourself as less-than, negatively impacting your self-esteem.
These messages can become maintained through societal influences and may even be self-reinforced over time.
Maybe you start working immediately after waking up because you have so much on your plate.
These processes can continue well into adulthood.
Anjali Gowda Ferguson, Ph.D., LCP, is a licensed clinical psychologist and trauma expert.
First, Dr. Ferguson recommends doing a self-assessment by evaluating what parts of your morning routine.
Identify which parts arent serving you and clarify what youd like to change.
From there, Dr. Ferguson recommends setting some goals for your morning ritual.
Ask yourself:What do I want to get out of my morning?
If I could design it in an ideal world, what would it look like?
Next, identify any barriers that prevent you from taking on your ideal morning routine.
Lastly, work on healing the unresolved trauma driving the behaviors you want to change.
Dr. Ferguson encourages contacting a mental health provider if you need guidance and support with this process.
Are there certain relationships or patterns you notice in your history that may have contributed to this response style?
In other words, be gentle with yourself and take your time.
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