In this lesson:

• Caring for Yourself
• Somatic Self-Care
• Misconceptions About Self-Care

Caring for Yourself

Cultivate Healing & Empowerment with Trauma

Understanding the unique needs of individuals with trauma is essential when it comes to providing effective self-care. Trauma can have a profound impact on a person's mind, body, and spirit, and it requires a different approach than typical self-care practices.

“Honestly, self-care is not fluffy. It’s something we should take seriously.”

Kris Carr - Crazy Sexy book and film series

Trauma-informed self-care is rooted in the understanding that trauma affects the nervous system and can lead to symptoms such as hypervigilance, hyperarousal, and dissociation.

It emphasizes the importance of creating a safe and supportive environment for healing. For example, someone with trauma may benefit from practices that cultivate a sense of safety and grounding, such as deep breathing exercises, mindfulness, or gentle movement.

Somatic Self-Care

Self-care is the practice of taking deliberate actions to improve your overall health and well-being. Contrary to what some may think, self-care is not selfish; it's actually essential for everyone, especially when healing trauma.

The principles of trauma-informed self-care are based on a somatic perspective, which recognizes the interconnectedness of the mind and body and acknowledges the body's inherent wisdom.

Somatic self-care recognizes that trauma gets stored in the body and can manifest as physical symptoms. Therefore, it focuses on bringing awareness to bodily sensations, using the body as a resource for healing, and engaging in practices that support the body's natural ability to regulate itself.

For instance, somatic self-care may include practices such as yoga, dance, body scan meditations, or self-massage.

Misconceptions About Self-Care

Many people have the wrong idea about self-care saying that it's:

• only spa days
• just for women
• time-consuming
• not that important

While in reality, self-care is for everyone and can be easily done in all kinds of ways. Self-care can improve the overall quality of your life and give you more peace.

It's not just about bubble baths and face masks; self-care is about taking care of yourself in a holistic way. When it comes to trauma, self-care becomes even more critical.

Trauma-informed self-care recognizes that healing from trauma is not a linear process and that self-care practices need to be adaptable and customized to meet individual needs. It encourages individuals to listen to their bodies, honor their boundaries, and cultivate self-compassion.

We ALL require self-care.

Since, in most cases, there is no one else to look out for your well-being, it's essential that you make yourself a priority. You especially need self-care when you face challenges like stress and burnout. Self-care can also help caregivers provide better support to those they care for everyday.

By understanding the unique needs of individuals with trauma, exploring the principles of trauma-informed self-care, and embracing a somatic perspective on self-care and healing, we can create a supportive and empowering journey towards healing and well-being.