Is PTSD Holding You Back?

Have you experienced something traumatic that still seems to present lingering effects?

Maybe you have a heightened startle reflex, experience vivid and intense nightmares, feel an array of physical symptoms that you just cannot explain, or wander into memories that you would prefer to push to the side.

You might feel as though your life is lacking purpose since your PTSD began. How is it possible that everyone around you is living their normal life, while you are experiencing feelings of numbness and anxiety, constantly preparing for another worst-case scenario, and wondering how you ended up in this position.

You may even be questioning what the signs of PTSD even are.

Maybe you are wondering what life would look like on the other side; to be able to trust yourself and those around you, to be more connected to your mind and body, and to be free of these nagging symptoms that create a wall between you and everyone around you.

You probably feel safer enduring your post traumatic stress alone, but with COVID-19 added in, the isolation may be reaching a new extreme that feels like too much to handle.

 

Your Days Might Not Feel Like They Belong to You

You wake up after a restless night and process through the vivid, life-like dreams you have had. The energy it takes to get out of bed and begin your day feels draining. It feels astounding that those around you are moving through their days unaware or unaffected by the experiences you have had and the lingering feelings of such. You see each part of your day as a task; just get through it and on to the next.

You might find yourself unwinding from your day in a pit of social media consumption, teetering on the verge of dissociation. Maybe you find yourself drinking more than usual or indulging in foods that would not normally be part of your daily consumption. Anything to find those small boosts of serotonin and feel normal, or dare we say good, for just a few moments of the day. If only you could find the cures for PTSD, your sense of self, sense of safety, and sense of normalcy could return.

 

But Have I Experienced a Traumatic Event?

Trauma feels like a big word, but the truth is, trauma can lie in various places within our life.

Trauma can be classified by a single event, such as living through a war, a natural disaster, the coronavirus pandemic, an automobile or motorcycle crash, the death of a loved one, rape or sexual assault, childbirth, etc.

There is also complex trauma, or complex PTSD. This occurs when there is an accumulation of traumatic events that continues to happen repetitively over time. Some examples of this would be family dysfunction, neglect, abuse (as a child or as an adult), abandonment, domestic violence, living with narcissistic parents or a narcissistic partner, or living with a long-standing illness requiring constant medical attention. 

During any given year, about 8 million adults struggle with PTSD. It is one of the top reasons that people seek out therapy. Treatment for post traumatic stress disorder is effective and can allow you to connect with both yourself and others around you in the deep and meaningful way you may be yearning for.

 

Is PTSD Treatment Right for Me?

Trauma counseling can help you reduce your symptoms that are impacting your day-to-day life, and regain control of your thoughts, feelings, and relationships. Trauma can cause emotional pain throughout various facets of your life, and together, we can regulate these emotions and move towards recovery from what has happened to you.

Whether you have experienced a single trauma or a complex trauma, PTSD counseling will be beneficial for you. If you are looking to make that mind-body connection within yourself, learn to trust yourself and others again, gain a true sense of safety, and move away from the physical and emotional symptoms that your PTSD has wreaked havoc on, we are here to help.

 

How Will Treatment for PTSD Work?

Reaching out for therapy is no easy feat, and the thought of sharing details surrounding your traumatic experience makes it an even more difficult journey. PTSD therapy moves at the speed you feel comfortable within. Our trauma therapists provide a safe, accepting, and trusting environment to work through your PTSD and traumatic experiences.

PTSD treatment begins with a comprehensive intake, which will explore psychological, social, and physical implications of your traumatic experiences. A treatment plan will then be collaboratively created with your therapist, and you will begin to move towards the person you are yearning to be.

By utilizing evidence-based approaches, acquiring positive coping skills, countering negative thought beliefs, and incorporating grounding techniques, you will begin to feel a reduction in the ever-present impacts of PTSD. As a result, you can begin to live your life with more peace and freedom.

 

You Might Be Feeling Like There Is No Cure For PTSD, or Still Have Questions or Concerns..

Is Online PTSD Counseling Effective?

The Veteran’s Administration has been researching the efficacy of online therapy for PTSD since the early 2000’s¹. Outcomes of PTSD treatment online versus in-person are nearly identical.

Researchers believe this can be due to a variety of factors, and being in your own space for sessions seems to have a positive impact on the work that is done in session. Feeling comfortable and safe is the first priority of effective trauma counseling, and this can be done with ease within your own environment.

Online treatment for PTSD also eliminates a commute, which is largely beneficial to those with trauma related to automobile accidents, or trauma related to leaving the home in any way. We will work towards eliminating these hurdles, but getting started in PTSD therapy does not have to wait due to these adverse feelings.

 

Will I Have to Tell My Trauma Story?

The priority in PTSD counseling is to keep you safe during sessions. PTSD therapists utilize specialized training and evidence-based approaches to ensure this safety and respond to what you need and feel comfortable expressing within each session.

Your trauma therapist will never force you to do anything you are not comfortable with, and progress within treatment is possible without sharing your entire trauma story. Some individuals feel pulled to revisit their traumatic event in order to heal, and your therapist will work with you to find the best medium to do so, whether it is verbal sharing, journaling, story-telling, or even through art. 

Our bodies can heal from trauma without having to talk about the experience from start to finish, so the process can look different for everyone. As every person and experience is different, every course of treatment is different, and we will work to find the best course of action for you.

 

How Will Trauma Counseling Help Improve My Relationships?

PTSD can bring a multitude of impacts on your life, and sometimes it is easier to isolate than to try to lean on those around us for support. Maybe your PTSD is related to abuse or neglect from a caregiver, and trusting those around you has proven to be harmful in the long-run.

By working through these past traumas and building trust both with yourself and others, your relationships can begin to flourish as you learn to navigate what it means to have trusting and meaningful relationships. You do not have to go at it alone forever.

 

How Do I Take the Next Step?

If you think we might be a good fit, or would like to chat more before being scheduled, simply contact us. We are happy to chat and answer any questions or concerns. You deserve to be free from the weight of PTSD.

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¹ https://www.research.va.gov/currents/winter2015/winter2015-12.cfm