Are You Dealing with Trauma & PTSD?

Have you experienced a natural disaster, sudden loss of a loved one, accident, physical/sexual assault, or witnessed violence? These are examples of “Big T” traumatic events. They are unexpected and usually involve the loss of your sense of safety in the world.

Have you experienced difficulties with bullies, been neglected or ignored by parents/loved ones, or feel emotionally disconnected from your partner? These are examples of “Little t” traumatic events, which are more subtle and can lead to Big T, but can also feel very uncomfortable.

Experiencing traumatic event(s) can be life-changing. People who survive trauma find their lives are altered in several ways:

Do you experience:

• Disturbing memories of what happened
• Anxiety, worry, fear, or phobia(s)
• Feeling “numb” or dissociated (see below for a more thorough definition)
• Unable to move past negative feelings about an event
• Uncontrolled memories of the event that make you feel you are re-living it (these are called flashbacks)
• Physical symptoms – headaches, stomachaches, racing heart, sweating, panic, numbness or tingling, dizziness
• Avoiding people, places, or things that remind you of the trauma

You are NOT alone in your experience. We specialize in working with survivors of every kind of trauma and are able to come up with a unique treatment plan for you, as an individual, to heal from your experience.

Dissociation:

Dissociation is normal!, our mind needs defenses when it has been attacked by devastating life experiences. Our mind protects itself by disconnecting the self from these hard experiences with gaps in recall, spacing out, altering emotions, perceptions, and cognitions.

• Structural Dissociation Theory – As mentioned before, dissociation (detachment or disconnection) is normal, but at times can have a negative effect on your life.  We can assess the level you dissociate and work toward reintegration and healing to allow you to feel complete and connected.

What kind of treatment options exist for what I have experienced?
There are several types of therapeutic treatments that can help one heal from trauma:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) –  Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) – EMDR works through the triggers you may be experiencing such as increased anxiety, hypervigilance, or fight, flight, freeze reactions.

The goal is a continual process of healing from trauma and managing the devastating effects it has had on your life.  We utilize each approach as appropriate for you as an individual, as everyone experiences trauma in a different way. Healing is possible and we can help guide you through the process.