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How Behavioral Health Care Helps Overcome Trauma

One Woman’s Behavioral Health Journey After Experiencing a Traumatic Experience

Eighty-eight-year-old Justina had little trust in the health care system before she started working with Evelyn, a social worker trained in behavioral health care. But as Justina continued to receive care from VNS Health’s behavioral health programs, she began to heal — both mentally and physically.

Health care workers are often seen as trusted sources of knowledge. But for Justina, this trust was broken. She had had a traumatic experience in a nursing rehab center, where a lack of care almost led to her death. As a result, she had to rebuild her trust in the health care system.

“When we first started, she was very traumatized by nursing rehab and her experience there. And she wasn’t able to let go,” explains Evelyn. Justina’s experience caused mental health issues, including PTSD and depression. She struggled to move past her traumatic experience, which was taking a toll on her daily life.

Justina’s emotions were affecting her physically, keeping her from getting enough sleep. “My bed was my enemy at that time,” Justina recalls. “I didn’t want to go to bed because when I close my eyes, I see me in that place.” Evelyn remembers that during this time, Justina would stay in a chair all night or stay in bed for only half an hour.

My bed is a curse.

— Justina, Geriatric Mental Health Initiative program patient

Not being able to get a good night’s rest was impacting Justina’s mind and body. She wanted to move forward. However, she needed the tools and support to do so.

According to Evelyn, patients who go through trauma need to accept what happened and work to let it go. This process takes time and strength.

“Justina has great awareness. She has a willingness to see things from a broader perspective and not stay stuck. I was helping her acknowledge, yes, what happened was very traumatic and hard. But what could we do to let go of those emotions while acknowledging them? To be able to move forward because you’re still here on this earth. You’re alive.”

Mental Health Guidance to Move Forward

Working through any problem requires recognizing that it exists. This includes mental health problems. When you start acknowledging that the problem is real and overwhelming, you can work towards a solution.

Likewise, by accepting their emotions, a person can process and release them. This creates mental clarity and peace.

“It’s important to acknowledge what [they’re] feeling,” explains Evelyn. “It’s a step-by-step process — validating their feelings, then acknowledging what they have experienced in order for them to then let go of that part.”

This work can be mentally tough. To help Justina cope, Evelyn guided Justina in mindfulness practices. These included breathing, writing, and calming exercises. Justina was also reminded to rely on others for help if she needed it like her daughter who lives nearby her.

Justina was also encouraged to use her own strengths. “We all have strengths,” Evelyn says. “By pulling on your own strengths, you can move forward, and you don’t have to be stuck in one moment in time or one moment that has happened to you.”

Finally, Evelyn worked to rebuild trust by replacing Justina’s negative experiences with positive ones. According to Evelyn, “Trust does take time to be earned again, especially when something traumatic like that happens. It’s about where are they at, at this moment in time? And have they had some positive experiences even after?”

Evelyn, along with others on Justina’s care team, played a key role in Justina’s healing.

Over time, Evelyn’s hard work paid off. “Little by little, [Justina] started letting go. She was able to sleep for two hours in her bed. Then, three hours. And now she’s sleeping a full night,” Evelyn says. “She’s able to lie in her bed without feeling like she’s unsafe.”

Now, I have another life

— Justina, Geriatric Mental Health Initiative program patient

“Evelyn, you brought me back to life.” says Justina. “My strength came from you. For me, it’s not like you come and go. The time that you spent with me was quality time. Thank you for everything.”

A Path Toward Healing and Growth

Healing is a process, no matter the stage of life. Justina made great progress thanks to the help she received from Evelyn.

Evelyn is deeply proud of and inspired by Justina and the strides she has made. “I tell her all the time because she’s that person who has just continued to move forward, and I’m grateful for her,” Evelyn says.

Evelyn is confident that patients from all walks of life can make similar progress. “If they’re wanting to put in that work and wanting to see how they can move forward from whatever has happened to them, it is possible,” she says.

With the right approach, and with a behavioral health program that opens doors to getting care, anyone can overcome major challenges and reclaim their life. Evelyn’s work gave Justina the tools she needed. However, Justina’s own drive will continue to move her toward a brighter, healthier future.

Your donation can help people like Justina as they navigate behavioral health home care.

For more information about giving, contact our Development team at 1-212-609-1525 or [email protected].

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