The Epidemic of Trauma: Healing Through Awareness and Spiritual Recovery

October is a month of beauty and reflection, yet it also offers a time to address deeper wounds that often go unseen. This blog is dedicated to trauma, a pervasive and complex issue that affects countless lives yet too often remains unspoken.

Trauma impacts not only individuals but entire communities. Through education, open dialogue, and the integration of both traditional and spiritual healing practices, we can begin to understand and address its far-reaching effects.

Understanding the Scope of Trauma

The U.S. National Academy of Sciences first referred to trauma as an “unrecognized epidemic” in 1966. More than half a century later, that description still holds true. Despite progress in mental-health awareness, resources remain inadequate, and the effects of trauma continue to ripple through families, workplaces, and society as a whole.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, traumatic injuries are the leading cause of death for individuals under age 44, surpassing both cancer and heart disease. In 2021 alone, trauma accounted for more than 300,000 deaths in the United States, and the total cost of preventable injuries in 2020 exceeded $2 trillion. These numbers reveal both the physical and emotional toll trauma continues to take.

Dr. Mitch Harris summarizes the urgency:

“Traumatic injury is the leading cause of death for children and adults up to the age of 44—a shocking statistic that affects everyone, regardless of age, race, or economic status.”

The Hidden Layers of Trauma

While statistics help illustrate trauma’s reach, personal experience gives it meaning. I have faced my own health-related challenges that ultimately revealed how trauma manifests in the body.

I began struggling with severe colon issues at 28, and years later, I was also diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. During my treatment, a gastroenterologist asked detailed questions about my medical history and noted something significant: both colon disorders and fibromyalgia are frequently found in women who have experienced sexual or physical trauma.

That realization changed my understanding of pain. Despite years of traditional treatments, my body continued to flare until I began exploring shamanic healing. Through spiritual work, I learned to manage pain by placing my medicine bag over my colon, clearing the solar plexus chakra, and using mindfulness to calm my body’s pain response. These practices did not erase trauma but transformed my relationship with it.

Bridging Medicine and Spiritual Healing

Healing trauma requires both science and spirit. Traditional therapies such as counseling, physical rehabilitation, and medication play an essential role in recovery. Yet spiritual modalities, including energy work, mindfulness, and shamanic practice, address the emotional and energetic imprints trauma leaves behind.

By integrating these approaches, we can support the whole person: mind, body, and soul. This holistic view fosters not only recovery but also resilience, empowering individuals to reclaim their sense of wholeness.

In 2026, I will be launching a new program, Spirituality & Trauma Recovery, designed to explore diverse spiritual approaches to trauma healing. This program will combine education, personal narrative, and experiential practices to help individuals and organizations understand trauma’s multidimensional nature.

Through open dialogue and shared experiences, we can deepen compassion, expand access to healing resources, and promote the integration of spiritual practices into trauma care.

Moving Toward Healing

Trauma is an epidemic, but healing is possible. When we bring awareness, compassion, and spirituality into the conversation, we not only restore individuals, we begin to heal communities.

If you or your organization are interested in learning more about my upcoming Spirituality & Trauma Recovery program or wish to explore spiritual approaches to trauma healing, I invite you to reach out. Together, we can create a path toward greater understanding, balance, and renewal.

Send me a message to learn more or to get involved in upcoming trauma-healing initiatives through Spirit of Saguaro.