In addition to inflicting emotional, mental, and intellectual pain and suffering, traumatic experiences change and transform you, whether you want it or not. Consequently, you live and view life in ways that you didn't in the past and in ways others around you don't. Initially, you may not even be aware of it. Coming to terms with and reconciling this change takes deliberate steps and actions.

I made it through a period of years of emotional and intellectual turmoil following a traumatic experience because I recognized and understood a lot of it, and, more crucially, I knew the steps to take.

I share the details in this blog post with the hope that it might help someone else.