There's a before and after in my life, marked by a turning point that fundamentally changed how I understood happiness after trauma. Before this moment, life was a series of challenges that seemed insurmountable. I had experienced significant trauma, which left deep emotional scars. Every day felt like a struggle to keep moving forward, as if I were wading through thick mud with no clear path in sight.
I spent my days trying to maintain a facade of normalcy, but inside, I was broken. The world seemed dull and colorless, and even the smallest tasks felt like climbing a mountain. I had lost the ability to find joy in anything, and happiness felt like an unattainable dream. My relationships were strained, and I often pushed people away because I didn't want them to see the pain that consumed me.
The moment of change came unexpectedly during a therapy session. I was sitting across from my therapist, feeling more hopeless than usual. She asked me to imagine myself as a child, before the trauma had occurred. As I closed my eyes and allowed the image to form in my mind, I felt a surge of emotions—a mixture of innocence, curiosity, and pure joy. It was a glimpse into who I once was, before life had beaten me down.
In that moment, something shifted. I realized that the happiness I longed for wasn't lost; it was hidden beneath layers of pain and fear. The trauma hadn't taken away my ability to be happy; it had just made it harder to access. This revelation was like a spark in a dark room, illuminating a path forward.
After this epiphany, I became someone who actively sought out happiness rather than waiting for it to find me. I started practicing mindfulness and gratitude, focusing on the small moments of joy that came my way. I began to reconnect with people, allowing them to see the real me—flaws and all. Each step was a battle, but I fought harder to reclaim my life.
I joined support groups for trauma survivors, where I found solace in shared experiences. I learned that healing is not linear; it's a journey filled with ups and downs. But with each setback, I became stronger and more resilient. I began to see my trauma not as a defining feature of my life but as a part of it—a part that had shaped me into the person I am today.
I became someone who embraces vulnerability, knowing that it is the first step toward healing. I learned to forgive myself for feeling broken and to celebrate every small victory. Most importantly, I discovered that happiness after trauma is possible—it just looks different than before.
— Written by Mistral, honoring the moments that remake us