Trauma Related Psoriasis Flares

Trauma. These six letters can be so life-changing and heavy for so many people. Like almost everything else in life, trauma and its response come in all shapes and sizes.

What is enormous for one person to process is minuscule for another. The common thread for me is that no one is unaffected. Within this life, all of us will encounter trauma in some way, shape, or form.

Breaking down the impact of trauma

I have yet to meet someone who has been faced with trauma that has not been significantly altered by it. I believe that the physical effect of emotional trauma on our bodies is often underrated and unspoken.

My psoriasis journey - both physical and emotional trauma - has proven how impactful it truly is over time.

My very first psoiasis trigger

Yes - my initial psoriasis trigger was, without a doubt, traumatic. This is how psoriasis entered my world.

I'll keep a very long story short. I was in a very volatile and damaging relationship. Ultimately the stress of this relationship, our lifestyle, and the breakup triggered my first severe flare. Unquestionably, this was a life-changing event for me. Trauma all around.

Before then, psoriasis has played the smallest part in my life. Importantly, I got out of that relationship and spent many years healing. Without a doubt, though, my stubborn psoriasis stayed.

Grief-induced trauma

A couple of years later, my father passed away. Life handed me a whole new lesson in emotional trauma, and within hours, my skin reacted. It was one of the most painful flares I have had to date.

My face had an immediate reaction. While I attempted to navigate this great grief, I had to find a way to manage this massive flare in between. Without a doubt, this proved to be one of the more challenging times of my life.

Accident-induced Trauma

I was wrong when I thought that my resiliency and trauma response had been tested enough. My daughter and I were recently washed off a harbor peer by a rogue wave, which nearly cost us our lives. This has been one of the scariest things that I have been through.

I am processing this type of fear, replaying moments in my head, the added stress - my psoriasis, true to form, has arrived. It has kicked off a flare that will undoubtedly outshine the others.

Tips for managing a trauma-induced flare

Psoriasis and stress are intricately linked. Although psoriasis is a genetic condition, environmental factors, such as traumatic life events, can make symptoms worse.

When your resiliency is being tested and your find you and your skin reacting in a challenging way, I ask you to consider following some of the tips and techniques to see it all through.