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PTSD TreatmenT
“Trauma Is a Fact of Life.
It does not, however, have to be a life sentence.”
-Peter Levine
Does Life Feel Like Chaos?
- Are you living with constant unhappiness?
- Do you feel disconnected from your body?
- Do you have a hard time trusting other people?
- Are you experiencing feelings such as anger out of nowhere?
- Do you struggle with sleep (having a hard time falling asleep, staying asleep, or having nightmares)?
- Do you ever just feel numb?
Every day can feel like you can’t breathe when you have PTSD symptoms. It can be like playing a game of dodgeball. You may be dodging, ducking, or running in the opposite direction trying to avoid feelings, thoughts, behaviors, social situations, or other people. You might also feel like someone is throwing a rapid ball of fire with past memories, overwhelming emotions, and bodily responses your way.
It can be downright HARD living with PTSD and trauma symptoms. You may not be able to explain your behaviors and want to change, but just don’t know how. Your family, friends, or coworkers might point out that you seem depressed or angry without any particular reason. And, when you don’t know what to do it’s easy to try to shove it aside or look for different ways to help you cope or feel okay. Some of these things might even include drugs or alcohol.
Do these statements describe your life? If they do, PTSD therapy may help.
Have I experienced a traumatic event? . .
The reality of trauma is it’s not a rare event in people’s lives. In fact, according to the National Center for PTSD sixty percent of men and fifty percent of women will have one or more traumatic experiences during their lifetime. It is important to note and understand just because you have experienced a trauma it DOES NOT mean you will develop PTSD.
A traumatic event can look different for anyone. Some of the events which may lead to a diagnosis of PTSD may include people who have experienced or witnessed the sudden loss of a loved one, personal assaults, accidents, violence, natural disasters, war, or other life-threatening situations.
However, here’s the main problem you may not even see. . . Sometimes, we don’t even realize how much an experience has influenced us. Sometimes, we simply get used to things being a certain way. In other words, in our lives and within our relationships dysfunctional can be functional. For example, maybe you have learned to live on less sleep, maybe you feel being emotionally reactive is just the way you are, or maybe you have become used to being treated poorly in relationships.
It’s an odd thing to me how society has a way of trying to normalize or minimize our human experiences. We tend to say things like “I’m fine,” “I’m good,” “People have it worse than me.” But, I beg you please STOP this and stop it now!
Trauma IS a BIG DEAL. Traumatic experiences change us deeply. When you go through a traumatic event, you can feel the experience on many levels including changes in physical, spiritual, mental and emotional health.
Now for the good part. . . Things can change and trauma therapy can make all the difference.
Why do I prefer the Grinch over Santa this holiday season?
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Trauma Therapy can bring you back into the light for new adventures
You may feel like there’s no hope because you have walked through life for a long time with things this way. You have to believe and understand how different things can be. This will mean trying new things that are uncomfortable.
In our sessions, we will focus on trauma informed care. I will look at different areas of your life including symptoms you are experiencing and assess them for safety. In the beginning, we will take a look at the most basic needs including sleep, hydration, and nutrition to see where things are thriving or falling apart. Second, we will focus on stability. We will work to change your habits and build a routine and structure from the bottom up. The most important piece of trauma work is regulation. In other words, in times of stress finding and noticing what’s going on in your mind and in your body.
Also, we will walk through many pieces of educational material .I want you to understand your brain and how trauma takes it toll. You will need to learn effective strategies to recognize and reduce your symptoms and explore what is means to relax and feel relaxed. Our brains can become so overstimulated and overwhelmed or heightened they have a hard time shutting down. And, eventually when they do shut down it is complete shutdown and this is your body’s way of telling you it needs a break. Our bodies are not meant to run in overdrive continuously. Just like a car. . . if you run the motor, put the air conditioning on high, blast the radio, turn the lights on and off repeatedly, but don’t attend to the cars basic needs like oil changes or filling up with gas it simply will have problems running.
Still on the fence and have more questions?
I’m worried and scared what will happen after I tell you the bad things that have happened to me . . .
First of all, it is perfectly natural to be scared to share something so personal with anyone let alone a complete stranger. There’s a conflict to trauma where on one hand you’re in pain and yet you really do not want to bring this hard stuff to the surface. I understand the fear you may have in sharing, but therapy gives you an opportunity to do so in a safe environment. I will never force you to share anything you are not ready to share.
This is how life has always been…. Nothing will change.
Many people do not understand trauma reactions or diagnoses related to trauma such as PTSD. They make some assumptions that it only influences soldiers and this is just not the case. Many people with PTSD know something is “off” but they have no idea it stems from trauma they have gone through.
I’ve been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or addiction in the past no one ever said anything about PTSD or trauma.
If you go to different doctors you might receive different ideas causing your symptoms and the same can be true for mental health. We do not always agree. The truth is if you have been previously treated for depression, anxiety, or addiction they are not completely wrong and can go hand in hand. It can be hard to decipher a trauma reaction from other things such as anxiety disorders, ADHD, and depressive disorders.
What I experienced isn’t that bad when I compare it to other things people have been through.
Please, please, please stop saying this if it describes you. ANY traumatic event can be difficult to navigate. While it is true the general symptoms after a trauma can be similar the severity and extent to which they influence your life can and will be very different. There’s no reason to compare yourself to others though I understand it may happen. Your experience is your experience. Your thoughts, feelings, emotions, bodily reactions, triggers, support system among other things are all unique to you.
Let’s take back your light . . . Together!
In my personal life, trauma has had its chance to flip my world upside down. There were times it felt hard to imagine things would ever change and times it was unbearable to get through the day. In my professional work, I have used my “IMPRINT” from trauma as I call it as a resource for my work with clients. In my years of practice as a therapist, I have worked with clients who have lived through a variety of issues related to trauma including but certainly not limited to: sudden death of a loved one to suicide, domestic violence, chronic illness, and sexual assault. I will be there. Let me say that again. . . I will be there. My hope in our work is someday you can share your own “IMPRINT” from trauma with someone else and look at it as a source of strength rather than a weakness.
So Where do I go from here? . . .
Interested in PTSD treatment and think we’d be a match? I’d love to help you in your journey!
Contact me today for a free 15 minute phone consultation. . .