Safe Spaces: Crafting an Inclusive Environment for Trauma Survivors

Trauma survivors may continue to feel on edge or anxious for some time after experiencing the trauma. Any detail that reminds them of their trauma can cause them to go into fight, flight, or freeze mode. This makes them feel extremely anxious and insecure.

While you can’t prevent them from experiencing this, you can provide safe spaces that don’t make them feel isolated or on edge while they undergo mental health treatment.

Provide a Safe Environment

To make your environment a safe space for trauma survivors, take their physical and emotional safety into account, then implement the following trauma-informed practices in your workplace:

• Actively listening to them when they want to open up about a sensitive topic.
• Sharing your own experiences with trauma and how you overcame them.
• Reassuring them that they can heal beyond this trauma.
• Respecting their boundaries.
• Encouraging them to do better by using positive reinforcement.
• Making sure the environment is clean and calming.
• Placing plants around the environment and opening window shades to let in light.
• Offering a space for them to decompress and take a deep breath.
• Asking what you can do to make them feel safe and comfortable.
• Making sure all emergency exits are marked and highly visible.

Establish Trust by Respecting their Boundaries

Trauma impacts people in different ways. Some bounce back briefly after the experience, while others struggle to find a sense of normalcy for months or longer. One way that trauma impacts individuals with PTSD is that it damages their concept of boundaries. They often feel their boundaries have been overstepped due to the trauma and have a hard time reestablishing them. They struggle to say “no” or speak up when overwhelmed, instead choosing to take on more than they can handle.

To establish trust with a trauma survivor, allow them to set clear boundaries and avoid pushing past them. At first, it may be difficult to know when you’re overstepping their boundaries, so here are a few examples of things to avoid:

• Standing too close to them when talking about a challenging topic.
• Closing them in a room to talk without asking if they’re comfortable having the door closed.
• Touching them without permission, shaking hands, or hugging them.
• Distracting them after they’ve stated they’re busy.
• Making comments about their physical appearance.
• Making jokes about trauma or anxiety.

Encourage Open Communication

People with PTSD may exhibit changes in behavior. They may become easily agitated, experience panic attacks, and feel stressed and frustrated. They may also isolate themselves and avoid communication with others to prevent these feelings. Unfortunately, this worsens their condition and leads to problems with interpersonal skills and communication.

To help, encourage them to speak up whenever they need to. Let them know that you understand they’re going through a difficult time and that you’re there for them when they need you.

Other ways to promote open communication include:

• Offering to eat lunch with them.
• Taking a walk together.
• Engaging in physical activity together.
• Letting them know the most convenient way to contact you about personal matters.
• Telling them it’s okay to come to you when they’re feeling upset.

Always keep in mind that people with PTSD may not be prepared for you to help. They may resist it or tell you they’re fine. If this happens, be sure to let them know the lines of communication are always open.

Promote Self-Care and Wellness

PTSD symptoms such as insomnia and feeling on edge can cause trauma survivors to feel mentally and physically drained. If left untreated, these symptoms can lead to a higher incidence of heart disease, respiratory problems, and digestive issues. To reduce these risks and start feeling better, trauma survivors must adopt healthy habits that promote healing of the mind, body, and soul.

You can help them achieve this goal by encouraging a self-care and wellness environment and encouraging them to go to community events and workshops for PTSD. 

A few examples of how to do this include:

• Placing a water dispenser in the vicinity: Drinking plenty of water can reduce blood pressure and blood sugar and balance electrolytes, leading to more energy.
• Promoting meditation during breaks: Meditation can include sitting still and staying present in the moment or visualizing a calming scene. For people with PTSD, meditation can help them feel calmer and control distressing thoughts.
• Providing healthy meal alternatives: Eating nutritious, balanced meals can support healthy digestion and reduce spikes in glucose, which could lead to feeling jittery or fatigued.

If you have extra space, consider investing in workout equipment. Regular exercise can boost endorphins, improve mood, and reduce depressive symptoms.

Trauma Survivor Resources

Experiencing profound trauma can deeply affect a person. Those struggling to cope with everyday life after such an experience should seek treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This condition can cause distressing symptoms that come and go unexpectedly, but it is treatable.

Mental wellness facilities, such as Transformation Treatment Centers, offer various therapeutic options to help individuals with PTSD recover, including adventure therapy, music therapy, and behavioral therapy. Seeking help for PTSD can lead to a significant improvement in well-being and a full recovery from the trauma.

If you or someone you know is struggling with PTSD, (800) 270-4315 to learn how we can support your healing journey.