Sunset Trauma Therapy and Consultation

Are you experiencing the impact of a trauma anniversary?

What are trauma anniversaries?
Trauma anniversaries can be an event or loss that disrupts sense of connection, safety, love, and trust to
a yourself or a loved one. This can look like death of a loved one, sickness, loss of job, divorce, break-up,
moving to a new place, etc.

These traumatic losses can linger way past the date they occurred. We can experience a residue of
somatic (body) sensations, feel more dysregulated or irritable, or simply feel numb or absent of any type
of emotions.

We are likely to remember dates, images, smells or other sensory memories in connection to the loss, or
traumatic experience.
These emotions and memories will feel more intense around the anniversary of this experience.

Although everyone experiences grief/loss differently, we can look for signs we are experiencing this, and
develop coping strategies to help us get through these vulnerable times.

1. Acknowledge and describe what you are feeling without judgment
   Take time to pause, celebrate, reflect, grieve the loss or remember a loved one.
2. Connecting to tradition,
   music, food, or family members that remind you of a loved one or remind you of a connection to yourself.
   Lean on others.
3. It’s ok to need extra support during this time, let others know what you are needing to get
   through this time.
   
4. Movement. Allowing your body to move through exercise or dance, will allow the tension and stress to
   help discharge through your body.
   
5. Seek out the help from a trained professional. There are licensed therapists who are trained to help
   people through traumatic events/ losses.
   
   

I am a Licensed Therapist, Erica Lima, LCSW in the Bixby Knolls, Long Beach, CA (Tongva Land) providing individual & couples therapy for individuals
struggling through loss, parenting issues, trauma, depression, & anxiety.