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How Trauma can Contribute to Ministry Burnout
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Do you know that any type of trauma can enhance your stress and make you suffer more? Trauma is the emotional, psychological, and mental response to a stressful event that deeply impacts your life. The symptoms of trauma can range from mild to severe based on the traumatic event that you face. No matter which traumatic event a Ministry Leader faces, it plays a negative role in making you more anxious and stressed. Before we go into the details, let’s learn about how many types of traumas are there that can enhance your stress level and contribute to burnout.
Types of Trauma
Here are the following types of trauma that may hit anyone’s life at any time:
Acute trauma
Acute trauma is when a person goes through a stressful event that emotionally disturbs him. In contrast to other types of trauma, acute trauma is based on a single stressful event. For example, a pandemic and losing multiple church and family members. Although these types of situations occur only a single time, they may highly impact your mental health for longer. If you fail to get out of your acute trauma, your life starts becoming more and more stressful and you will eventually experience burnout.
Chronic trauma
Chronic trauma is the type of trauma that comprises a repeated or prolonged exposure to any distressing event. For example, several episodes of child abuse or bullying leave one in the state of chronic trauma. Chronic trauma is more dangerous than acute trauma because it hits your mental health several times. It is critically important to deal with chronic trauma as soon as possible to control the stress level and to save your life.
Complex trauma
Complex trauma is the most complicated type of trauma in which a person faces multiple stressful events of different natures. In this type, more than one trauma attacks a person and ruins your mental health. It is surprising to know that a large number of people going through complex trauma make attempts to end their life. The complex trauma doesn’t only enhance your stress level but may push you into depression. Therefore, it is crucial to deal with these types of trauma and help you improve your mental health and wellbeing.
How Trauma Enhances Stress
So, when you face any traumatic event, your body goes through several responses to that event. One of these responses is the increased production of the cortisol hormone in the body, which is the stress hormone. When cortisol production increases in the body, it disturbs one’s mind and causes greater stress. Other responses that your body goes through while facing a traumatic event include:
- An unusual increase in your heartbeat
- A sudden increase in your sweating level
- Instant shivering or shaking due to fear or sudden stress
- Inability to feel any hunger or loss of appetite
These responses are normal if they last for a short period. However, you must be cautious if these responses get prolonged and you find no way to get out of them. In some cases, the people who fail to manage their traumatic event stress may go into post-traumatic stress disorder or depression.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
With or without being physically affected by a traumatic event, people with this disorder suffer for years. This is a type of disorder in which a person continues to be emotionally and mentally affected by a traumatic event. For example, you may experience the same event in the dreams that turn into nightmares. You may also get panic attacks and start to avoid doing certain things or may develop the fear of meeting some people in order to avoid the stress. This type of disorder needs clinical treatment to effectively overcome and control it.
How to Control Stress After Facing a Trauma
By adopting the simple tips and techniques mentioned below, you can significantly help yourself in overcoming your post-trauma stress:
Share it with someone you trust and ask for support.
By speaking your heart with someone you trust, you would feel much better and lighter. Sharing your worries itself takes away half of the stress from you. Ask him/her for support and help in coming out of the traumatic after-effects.
Try to change your environment.
Go on a staycation for a change of scenery or visit your favorite place and stay there for a couple of weeks or months. It would help you in overcoming your stress within a shorter time.
Make some lifestyle changes.
Make some important lifestyle changes to overcome your stress. For example, develop a good morning/night routine, start eating a nutritious and healthy diet, or take some time for self-care, etc. I teach all of this, so let’s chat!
Lookup for a professional/medical help
If nothing helps, seek professional advice so that you can control your stress at the right time. Make sure to follow the proper medical treatment, therapies, antidepressants, or other medications to get out of your traumatic event stress. Working in tandem with a Therapist and me (a Burnout Prevention Coach) could help you overcome the trauma you’ve been suffering with.
Share this with your peeps!
Monique Addison-Stinson
Burnout Prevention Coach
I empower exhausted, corporate women over 40 (& Ministry Leaders) feel less stressed so they can navigate this phase of life more smoothly.
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