Posttraumatic Stress Disorder – PTSD

I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.
– CARL JUNG

As broken and damaged as you may feel, we believe healing is possible.

Trauma – and trauma therapy – is incredibly personal and subjective. People cope with all kinds of traumas: psychological, physical, sexual, and/or emotional traumas; one-time traumas, such as an accident, natural disaster, or terrorism; and complex traumas such as those that Veterans experience during war and the painful aftermath of combat; the close encounters with danger, chaos and tragedy, sometimes on a daily basis that first responders experience; sexual violence; domestic violence; or trauma of childhood that is often connected with familial attachment relationships.

Trauma is not just an event that took place sometime in the past; trauma is also the imprint left by that experience on mind, brain and body. This imprint has ongoing consequences of how you manage to survive in the present. Trauma has a way of living in the present through contextual and somatic cues, triggers and re-experiencing of trauma.

People who have experienced trauma may have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD.

PTSD symptoms are generally grouped into four types: intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, and changes in physical and emotional reactions. Symptoms can vary over time or vary from person to person.

Symptoms of intrusive memories may include:

• Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event
• Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks)
• Upsetting dreams or nightmares about the traumatic event
• Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the traumatic event

Symptoms of avoidance may include:

• Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event
• Avoiding places, activities or people that remind you of the traumatic event

Symptoms of negative changes in thinking and mood may include:

• Negative thoughts about yourself, other people or the world
• Hopelessness about the future
• Memory problems, including not remembering important aspects of the traumatic event
• Difficulty maintaining close relationships
• Feeling detached from family and friends
• Lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed
• Difficulty experiencing positive emotions
• Feeling emotionally numb

Symptoms of changes in physical and emotional reactions (also called arousal symptoms) may include:

• Being easily startled or frightened
• Always being on guard for danger
• Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much or driving too fast
• Trouble sleeping
• Trouble concentrating
• Irritability, angry outbursts or aggressive behavior
• Overwhelming guilt or shame

For children 6 years old and younger, signs and symptoms may also include:

• Re-enacting the traumatic event or aspects of the traumatic event through play
• Frightening dreams that may or may not include aspects of the traumatic event

Are you ready to begin your journey of healing?

Because you are unique, and because your traumatic history is unique, there is no ‘blueprint’ to your journey of healing. In general, trauma therapy tends to be relationally-oriented and intuitive. The therapists at Comforts of Home Counseling have extensive training and experience in many trauma-informed treatment modalities and are here to take the journey with you.