Having experienced trauma in the past has serious consequences:
- Difficulties regulating emotions and sense of emotional numbness
- The young person may alternate between feeling anxious and on edge, irritable and angry or numb and detached, without much control or understanding of his/her shifting moods
- Constant feeling of being stuck in the past and not being able to move forward
Making a habit from expressing through art
Playing an instrument of your choice can help to bring out and deal with past events and deep emotions. It can be done with total freedom, or by thinking about a specific subject/person. Especially on the piano or keyboard, the participant can challenge him or herself to play only white or black keys, in order to limit options, avoid overthinking, and let deeper emotions be expressed without worrying about how the music is going to sound. It can be done routinely, for example every morning or night, in order to make it a healthy habit in daily life. It can also be done with other people, as an improvised dialogue. Exploring other ways of expression, such as painting, dancing, or dramatization with music, is also highly recommended.