Trauma Treatment and EMDR Therapy
What is post-traumatic stress disorder?
Are you wondering what post-traumatic stress syndrome/post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD, is? It is a mental health disorder that is characterized by alterations in arousal and reactivity. Individuals with this may have an exaggerated startle response. They can be on high alert often scanning their environment for threats. Living in that high arousal state can cause a person to experience high levels of anxiety. Having been seriously impacted by trauma can cause our amygdala to be on overdrive. The amygdala is the emotion center of our brain. Individuals with PTSD may have more catastrophic thoughts and are often on high alert just waiting for possible threats. Symptoms can happen after we have been exposed to a traumatic event ourselves and also can occur when we witness something traumatic happening to others.
Trauma Symptoms
Some trauma symptoms may include intrusive nightmares or distressing dreams related to the traumatic event. Flashbacks of the event can seem very vivid, and these happen during the day causing us to feel like we are reliving the trauma over and over again. Sometimes people who've been impacted by trauma can dissociate and lose awareness of their present surroundings. This is how our brains cope when things get to be too intense. Sometimes we actually forget key details of the event or remember it differently compared to others who may have witnessed it. This is another way that our brain tries to protect us. If you are dealing with any of these symptoms, it may be a sign that you need some support.
After a trauma, some people will feel a need to avoid anything that causes them to have distressing memories, reoccurring thoughts or upsetting feelings about the trauma. Sometimes people will avoid going certain places or even avoid seeing people or doing things that remind them of the traumatic event.
If you have been impacted by trauma, reach out. Many clients contact us for EMDR Therapy. Emily Thompson is certified in EMDR and experienced in working with individuals who have been impacted by trauma. Our therapists understand the importance of creating a safe space for clients to process memories when and if they want to do that. In therapy, clients can learn to integrate those memories in a way that can help strengthen us can help. We have therapists who can help. Just click on the black "Click Here to Schedule" button to set up your initial appointment.
Want to learn more? We have several blog posts on our website to provide you with additional information about posttraumatic stress disorder. Here is a link to one of our blogs that will provide you with some basic information about trauma therapy: Trauma Therapy. Be sure to check over to the blog page and read our blog about post-traumatic growth while you are on our website.