What is a Traumaversary?

If you have ever experienced strange (or deeply familiar) bodily sensations, flashbacks, returns to old coping strategies, and waves of grief and sadness (among many other possibilities) before the anniversary of a traumatic event rolled around - you might have experienced a natural response to a traumaversary.

Traumaversaries are the anniversaries of traumatic events, and these times can be so tender and potent. A lot can emerge, including things we might have felt “done with.” It’s natural to experience flashbacks, big feelings, old coping strategies, and physical and somatic sensations.

Our body and being can remember the timing of a past traumatic event. Just as certain smells and sounds can trigger a trauma response, certain days, times of year, and holidays might bring up residual trauma and re-experiencing.

Sometimes, our being remembers concurrently with our brain, and we know we are in the thick of a traumaversary. At other times, we might not consciously realize what is happening. This can feel especially confusing and overwhelming, as the responses we are experiencing can seemingly come out of nowhere.

Everyone’s experience with traumaversaries is as unique as their being and as their traumatic experiences. And there are some common threads. If you feel alone in the struggle of making it through traumaversaries, know that many survivors struggle silently, or with those closest to them.

Traumaversaries have a tender place in my heart, and so do all of you.

In the coming week, I’m going to be sharing more about traumaversaries and offering some support around navigating them, including my upcoming guide - Tending To Traumaversaries. This offering comes from a very soft and fierce place in my heart. As often happens, I am offering you the support I have needed myself.

I hope that even if this offering isn’t right for you at this time, these posts feel supportive of your healing and can help remind you that no matter how lonely it can be as a survivor, we are never alone.

And if this does sound like something you are needing, click here to learn more. I’d love to offer up a bit of support.

Love and care to you all,

Jess