"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." Nelson Mandela

Best Life Therapy, January 24, 2025 Blog Post:

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, is characterized by alterations in arousal and reactivity. Individuals who experience PTSD often have an exaggerated startle response as a result of what they have experienced. Individuals may be on high alert often scanning their environment for threats. Living in that high arousal state happens when our amygdala, the emotion center of our brain is on overdrive. After a traumatic event, we tend to have more catastrophic thoughts and are on edge waiting for possible threats. Even learning about traumatic events that are significant to us can have an impact on our level of functioning. PTSD can occur when we experience traumatic events ourselves and when we witness something traumatic that occurs to others. 

Who is at Risk?

Veterans and active-duty military personal are at high risk for PTSD and they are often the first population that people think of when they hear about this disorder. PTSD can occur after experiencing, witnessing or hearing about any traumatic event. Children who witness domestic violence can be significantly impacted by the trauma they have seen. It can literally change the brain structure in children causing them to have an enlarged amygdala. Repeated exposure to traumatic events as in the case of first responders dealing with human remains or high stress jobs like child protective services workers can increase the likelihood of PTSD developing. Veterinarians is another career impacted by trauma on the job. Watching the reactions of people who love their animals being told that there is nothing they can do can cause intense emotions in individuals. I shed a lot of tears in my veterinarian's office when I had to say goodbye to Mollie, my beautiful cockapoo of 12 years.  Prison employees and police officers are at high risk for PTSD because of the nature of their work. Teachers, social workers and therapists also deal with traumatic situations at work and need to be sure they are engaging in activities to prevent burnout and tend to their own feelings around trauma.

Trauma Symptoms

Some of the symptoms we experience when dealing with trauma include intrusive nightmares or distressing dreams that relate to the traumatic event. These dreams can be frightening for individuals and sometimes cause a person to wake up screaming. They also may be in visible distress upon waking. Flashbacks during the day can also happen. These are considered to be dissociative reactions and occur when a person feels like they are reexperiencing the traumatic event. Sometimes they lose all awareness of the present surroundings. 

People also might feel like they have an inability to recall key details of a trauma. When we experience challenges with recalling key details of the event, it is often our brains way of trying to block some of those memories to protect us. When this happens, it's a sign that we may need support.

Avoidance of anything that causes us to have distressing memories, thoughts or feelings about the trauma is another hallmark feature of PTSD. This may mean that the individual avoids places, peoples or things that remind them of the traumatic event. Grief and trauma are very much interconnected. Sometimes we get caught up in labels, trying to separate things but trauma and grief sometimes the symptoms overlap. The important thing is that we are getting help. PTSD can cause an avoidance of triggers and physical sensations such as a rapid heartbeat. It may be a good idea to seek help if you experience those physical sensations especially if it has been a long after the event has passed. Avoiding things that remind us of those events can be a sign of PTSD. 

Trauma can cause us to feel isolated or detached from others. Feeling like we are different or damaged in some way compared to others is a common feeling after experiencing a traumatic event. After my brother died, I felt like everyone could see the hurt and the pain I was experiencing. I tried to go to work a few days after that happened and found myself crying while I was there. knew then it was time to go home. Trauma can cause so much pain and cause us to experience prolonged psychological distress when exposed to things that remind us of the event. We can even develop physiological reactions such as a rapid heartbeat, stomachache and headaches. 

Seeking help can be difficult. Finding a therapist, you trust who specializes in trauma is an important step in your recovery. Best Life Therapy has online scheduling and is available to support you. You don't not have to go through this alone. Use the schedule an appointment link on our website and request your appointment today. If you're struggling with anxiety and need support to process your trauma and learn to regulate your nervous system, we're here to help. Our therapists specialize in trauma therapy and can help you learn practical coping strategies to manage your symptoms. We'll work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan that meets your unique needs.

Learn more about Trauma and the Nervous System from a Polyvagal Perspective by clicking on the link below to see a video created by The Trauma Foundation: htttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdlQRxwT1I0