When a loved one, close friend, or an intimate partner betrays someone’s confidence, it can result in grief and mental discomfort known as betrayal trauma. Anxiety and grief can emerge from gaslighting as well as other traumas linked to betrayal. Traumatic betrayal happens when a person or group you depend on behaves in a way that is contrary to your expectations of them and leaves you feeling harmed. The inability to see what is directly in front of us is known as betrayal blindness.
Betrayal trauma comes in a variety of forms, such as parental, intimate partner, institutional, and interpersonal.
Here are four traumas caused by betrayal:
Parental: when a parent or caregiver, who you rely on to meet your needs, abuses you or neglects to keep you safe.
Intimate Partner: When your intimate partner commits the betrayal, this is referred to as an intimate partner. When your partner is having a sexual or emotional affair, this can happen. There is frequently betrayal when one of the partners has a sexual addiction that is active.
Institutional: When an organization has an effect on you that is wholly at odds with how they present themselves or what is stated in their mottos and goals. This can also happen when a perpetrator is protected by the institution while a victim or “whistleblower” is not. An example of this might include a school, the military, a healthcare system, etc.
Interpersonal: When a friend, peer, or other trusted individual breaches your trust, it is interpersonal.
Trying to picture your life as bright and joyous while you’re experiencing betrayal pain may seem impossible. It’s common to believe that you will never be able to love or trust someone else again, but this does not necessarily have to be the case. You can recover, get better at spotting trustworthy people, and start to feel more at ease with trusting.
Here are some suggestions for recovering from betrayal trauma:
1. Practice Gratitude
Gaining greater awareness of the present moment as it is felt in our bodies is the goal of mindfulness. It’s not about attempting to modify your thoughts or empty your head. It’s about observing and acting compassionately rather than harshly.
Grounding strategies are among the other components of mindfulness. Give an example of something you can sense with each of your senses.
2. Take Care of your Body
The mind and body are intertwined. A healthy mind is built on the foundation of physical well-being. Additionally, it sends the message to yourself that you are someone who is worth the effort.
Here are some tips for maintaining your body:
- Take in a lot of water.
- Eat wholesome meals that are high in vegetables.
- Choose an enjoyable sort of exercise to help your mental health.
- Adopt healthy sleeping practices
3. Pamper Yourself
Take your self-care to the next level if you are taking care of your physical body in a basic manner. Treat yourself. Get a manicure or a massage. Try other types of bodywork, such as chiropractic, reflexology, Rolfing, postural integration, etc. In addition to improving your immediate well-being, you are laying the groundwork for long-term physical and mental health.
4. Try Different Calming Activities
Martial arts, tai chi, yoga, and Pilates are some examples of mindful exercise and activities that can assist to relax our nervous system and strengthen our connection to our bodies. Progressive muscular relaxation has numerous positive effects. Trying out various body treatments can also be beneficial.
5. Build Healthy Relationships
No marriage is perfect. People we love will disappoint us. What distinguishes a healthy relationship from a bad one, then? In a safe relationship, you essentially feel free to be who you are. You and the other individual can discuss any errors made or upset sentiments. You feel heard and understood when you leave the conversation
Speaking with a therapist can be incredibly therapeutic if you’re struggling with betrayal trauma or infidelity PTSD. It’s critical that you feel secure and at ease with your therapist. With trauma, this is much truer. A professional trauma therapist will be aware that developing trust may be difficult for you and will work with you at whatever stage of the process you are at.
If you have been the victim of serious betrayal, such as abuse by a dependable caregiver or betrayal by an intimate spouse, you will probably require professional assistance to guide you through your healing process. You merely need to heal; you don’t need to be fixed. Not just for yourself, but also for the people in your life that you have an impact on, it is worthwhile to engage in your healing. If you’re searching for a “therapist near me,” use talk to Angel, a platform for online counsellor to get in touch with the top online therapists and online psychiatrists.
