Can you heal from an injury? Expert Mia Barnes shares evidence-based treatments that are effective and help rebuild mental well-being.
“Injuries are not just something that happens to you; injuries are something that happens in you as a result of what happens to you.”
– Annie Wright, LMFT.
Wound healing is often associated with stress and pain. In recent years, evidence-based therapies have emerged that offer hope and a path to recovery. This editorial explores how injuries affect long-term mental health and the available treatment options and insights provided by experts.
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Long-term effects of trauma on mental health
Injuries are known to cause serious mental health damage. Individuals who experience trauma can endure both immediate and long-term effects, including avoidance techniques and the difficulty of establishing close relationships. Disturbing thoughts and returns can become part of your daily experience, creating obstacles that hinder normal functioning.
In addition to injuries Can change brain functionImpairs emotional control and stress response mechanisms. These factors can cause chronic Mental illness Like PTSD, anxiety and depression affect the overall quality of life and the ability to cope with daily stress. This disorder often manifests itself as high alertness or emotional detachment that further affects relationships and personal well-being.
With CDC warning US Mental Health CrisisEspecially among children and adolescents, evidence-based injuries and other treatments are increasingly being sought by parents and families.
Can you heal from an injury? Evidence-Based Therapy
“Physical therapy, brain repair, soul saving”
As awareness of the deep effects of trauma develops, so does the development of effective treatment strategies, with the above excerpt from the entire rehabilitation center, The Sanctuary at Sedona, outlining the multi-model integrated approach of the 12-step rehabilitation center.
According to the Deer Hollow Injury Treatment Center in Utah, “Injury Rehabilitation Centers specialize in helping individuals who have experienced major traumatic events. They provide comprehensive and personalized care that addresses the emotional and physical aspects of the injury … These treatments are designed to help individuals function and overcome their painful experiences in their well-being and supportive environment.” Treatment centers can be an important part of healing. Many wound care facilities offer the following treatments.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a type of speech therapy that helps people Recognize and exchange useless ideas And behaviors that can affect their mood and daily life. It focuses on developing practical problem-solving skills and healthy thinking patterns to improve mental well-being. “CBT follows the belief that people can re-learn how to effectively deal with negative thoughts and behaviors, generally relieving the patient’s symptoms,” Sanctuary states. CBT remains fundamental to wound healing, focusing on changing patterns of negative thoughts that can exacerbate stress.
2. Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) eye movements
According to The Sanctuary, “In EMDR therapy, licensed practitioners set trauma-related goals and work to fundamentally change beliefs, emotions, and memories. Instead, these negative emotions are replaced by positive thoughts that fit the situation.”
Deer Hollow uses EMDR to generate negative thoughts. “Think of an injury as a file stored incorrectly in your brain. It does not belong to it, so it still interferes with your daily life. EMDR therapy helps ‘reorganize’ these files so that your brain can function without having to deal with unresolved pain.” Research shows that EMDR can reduce PTSD symptoms by providing relief that traditional therapies can shorten.
3. Trauma Release Breathwork Therapy
Concussion exhalation is a way for clients to process injuries using a breathing pattern to relieve a faint brain without the risk of triggering additional arousal. As The Sanctuary explains, “By breathing as the primary catalyst, we connect clinically and spiritually, allowing you to achieve a broader state of mind that facilitates deep healing, long-term healing, and sustainable change.”
Fullbrook Center Also believe in the use of breath to heal wounds. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Some breathing practices, such as body breathing, abdominal breathing, holotropic breathing, and box breathing, activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for deep relaxation and emotional control. When practiced regularly, these techniques help with both mental and physical health, reducing the symptoms of anxiety, depression and even risk factors for heart disease.”
These benefits make breathing a great way for someone recovering from an injury, managing a complex mental health condition, or finding the basics during the healing process.
Work path forward
Ongoing research supports the idea that holistic approaches complement traditional therapies and often provide the best results. A 2023 NVHS.org study states that “traditional therapies such as cognitive therapy (CBT) and medication have long been fundamental to the treatment of PTSD. However, an increasing number of veterans are seeking joint treatment for PTSD – commonly referred to as complementary and integrated therapies (CIH).”
Acupuncture, science, art and music, movement therapy, thinking and meditation, yoga and nutrition are the most effective options today.
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Using effective therapies to heal wounds
Healing wounds is a journey full of challenges and hopes. A diverse range of effective treatment options provides insight into the effects of trauma and explores both traditional and holistic therapies. If you are struggling and seeking help, be sure to consult a qualified mental health professional for treatment options. Wound healing looks different for everyone, and the treatments discussed previously do not fit the same size, so be sure to find one that suits you and your specific needs.
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Written by: Mia Barnes (Editor-in-Chief)
