Trauma & PTSD

Trauma & PTSD

Most people will experience trauma in their lifetime. While many people can recover from trauma over time with the love and support of family and friends and bounce back with resiliency, others may discover effects of lasting trauma, which can cause a person to live with deep emotional pain, fear, confusion, or post-traumatic stress far after the event has passed.

Post traumatic stress disorder – also known as PTSD – is a diagnosable mental health disorder that may occur in individuals who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a terrorist act, an act of war, a serious accident, rape, or any other violent personal assault.

It is believed that PTSD affects nearly four percent of the U.S. adult population. While it is usually linked with veterans who’ve experienced combat, PTSD occurs in all people regardless of age, race, nationality or culture. In fact, women are twice as likely to experience PTSD than men.

What are the Symptoms of PTSD?

Avoidance Symptoms

  • Avoiding specific locations, sights, situations, and sounds that serve as reminders of the event
  • Anxiety, depression, numbness, or guilt
  • Intrusive thoughts, nightmares or flashbacks

Hyperarousal Symptoms

  • Anger, irritability and hypervigilance
  • Aggressive, reckless behavior, including self-harm
  • Sleep disturbances

Negative Mood and Cognition Symptoms

  • Loss of interest in activities that were once considered enjoyable
  • Difficulty remembering details of the distressing event

How Can Treatment Help?

The support, guidance and assistance of a therapist is fundamental to healing from trauma and/or PTSD.  There are a variety of treatments that can be used to treat PTSD, including EMDR.

If you or a loved one suffer with PTSD or think you may have something traumatic to process, please reach out to me to discuss your options. I have personally seen amazing transformation through therapy and want to offer the help you need to enjoy life again.

 

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