We depend on our intimate partners to be there for us, to follow through on commitments made, to feel seen and to feel safe. When this understanding is broken through a partner’s chronic infidelity and or sex addiction it can trigger a trauma response in our brain. This means that our brain and our emotions are responding as if our very life is threatened. This trauma reaction can be scary, it can change the way we think and respond (even just temporarily). Being betrayed by your spouse/partner leaves you dazed, confused, shocked, devastated, deeply wounded. But you can heal from a betrayal trauma! The first steps towards recovery include identifying the experience and creating safety. Below are some common responses to betrayal trauma. Take a moment to review the list and reflect on what responses you may have experienced. Some common trauma responses
- Jaw tightness
- Feeling like you’re in a “fog”
- Feeling hopeless or helpless
- Shock
- Avoiding spending time with others
- Minimizing the impact of this experience
- Feeling depressed
- Focusing on body image
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Feeling disoriented
- Obsessing over certain details or thoughts
- Excessive alertness (hyper-vigilance)
- Fear Powerlessness
- Anxiety Feelings of panic
- Difficulty sleeping
- Oversleeping
- Irritability
GOD. SEES. YOU.
God is close to the broken hearted and longs to heal your deep wounds. When the façade of the secret sexual life of the addict has been exposed, and the reality and disillusionment is beginning to settle in, your life is mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually thrown into a tsunami! As in any life altering crisis, how you respond has a lot to do with your personality and whether you suffered from prior trauma or crisis in your life. This means that if you are someone who has experienced frequent gut-wrenching pain then you are apt to be more reactive than someone who has not. God. Sees. Your Pain…and desires to heal you spiritually, physically, emotionally, and mentally. We at Restore Counseling Center want to crawl in the trenches with you and help you heal from your unimaginable heartache.