PTSD/Trauma

PTSD/trauma

What's it all about

Most people will experience trauma in their lifetime, whether it’s a car accident, abuse or neglect, the sudden death of a loved one, a violent criminal act, exposure to war violence, or a natural disaster. 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 the effects of lasting trauma, which can cause a person to live with deep emotional pain, fear, confusion, or posttraumatic stress far after the event has passed.

In these circumstances, a therapist’s support, guidance, and assistance are fundamental to healing from trauma. We are here to help you learn tools that will reduce or alleviate the symptoms that have you stuck in the pain.

EMDR and Military Trauma Support

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapeutic technique that has been effectively used to treat trauma, particularly Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Military personnel often encounter traumatic events during their service, and EMDR can assist in their recovery by enabling them to process distressing memories more adaptively. Through structured eight-phase sessions, individuals are guided to recall traumatic events while receiving bilateral stimulation, typically in the form of guided eye movements. This process helps reduce the intensity of traumatic memories, allowing military individuals to integrate these memories more healthily and reduce symptoms associated with PTSD. As a result, EMDR can be a vital tool in supporting the mental well-being of our servicemen and women, fostering resilience and aiding in their transition to civilian life.

Understanding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Posttraumatic stress disorder – also known as PTSD – is a mental health challenge 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?

People with PTSD often feel intense emotions such as fear, anger, sadness and a detachment from friends, family and community members. They often avoid people and situations that remind them of the traumatic event. Ordinary sounds or incidents such as a door banging or accidental touch in a crowd may cause a strong and uncontrollable reaction.

What You Need To Know About Symptoms

You may experience any of these Trauma Symptoms

 

Avoidance Symptoms:

  • Avoiding specific locations, sights, situations, and sounds that serve as reminders of the event

Re-experiencing Symptoms:

  • 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

  • Change in habits or behavior since the trauma

  • Anxiety, depression, numbness, or guilt

  • If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, CLICK LINK BELOW

Treatment Can Help

There are a variety of treatments that can be used to treat trauma. However, there are three specific techniques that are consistently gaining research-based evidence of their effectiveness in successfully treating trauma.

Cognitive Processing Therapy – This modality focuses on how a person perceives a traumatic event and processes it. A therapist can help their client work through stuck points, which are certain thoughts related to the trauma that prevents the person from recovering.

EMDR – EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. This technique uses bilateral sensory input such as side-to-side eye movements to stimulate the brain to process difficult thoughts, memories and emotions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – CBT is a form of talk therapy that focuses on how thoughts, feelings and behaviors are related to one another. The goal of a CBT therapist is to help a client with PTSD return to a place of hope with a greater sense of being in control of their thoughts and behaviors.

If you or a loved one has suffered from trauma and would like to explore treatment options, please reach out to us. We have personally seen amazing transformation through therapy and want to offer the help you need to enjoy life again.