The National President of the Association of Trauma Healing Facilitators (ASTHEF), Mr Samuel Pender, has advised individuals experiencing trauma or emotional distress to speak out and seek help early.
Pender gave the advice on Tuesday in Lagos while speaking with reporters, stressing that timely intervention was crucial to preventing depression and other mental health challenges.
He said that while it was natural for people to feel pain when faced with unpleasant situations, the ability to rise above such challenges was essential for emotional wellbeing.
According to him, the inability of some individuals to forgive themselves or others after being offended often contributes to trauma, which may eventually lead to depression.
The trauma expert urged people not to allow themselves to be overwhelmed by life’s challenges, regardless of how difficult they might appear.
He identified poverty, physical, emotional, verbal and sexual abuse, rejection, past failures, neglect, loss, and exposure to crime, kidnapping, domestic violence and addiction as major predisposing factors to trauma.
“The first step to healing from trauma is to speak out about the experience and seek help, rather than bottling up pain, as many people suffer in silence.
“People do not fall into depression simply because they experience life’s challenges, but because they suppress their emotions.
“Always find someone to talk to when burdened, especially during emotionally difficult moments, to stay afloat no matter how grievous the situation may be,” he said.
Pender described trauma as a “silent killer” and noted that it remained a major issue in Nigeria, with many people suffering without support.
He called for increased education, awareness and sensitization on trauma, saying many people lacked the skills and knowledge needed to manage traumatic experiences.
“Awareness of trauma is very low. Many people do not know what to do when they are traumatized, which can push them into more dangerous situations such as depression.
“The effects of trauma can last a lifetime, especially when individuals fail to seek help from therapists or mental health professionals,” he said.
Pender emphasized the need for increased support for trauma victims through counseling, therapy and other interventions to create safe spaces for people to share their experiences and receive help.
He added that a stable mind was essential for personal growth and development, stressing the importance of healing from past trauma to live a healthy and productive life.
