If a client is working through a single traumatic event that occurred as an adult, trauma or PTSD therapy may only take a few months, but in general, it can take a year or more to effectively treat trauma symptoms and PTSD. The duration of treatment is highly dependent on the client and the severity of their symptoms.
How PTSD Can Develop
In response to a traumatic event, some people may develop PTSD. Certain things can raise an individual’s risk for PTSD, including…
- Living through an on-going or acute traumatic event.
- How an individual’s brain releases and regulates certain hormones during perceived or real stress, danger, or threats.
- A genetic history of mental illness—especially anxiety or depression.
- The type of trauma that occurred—particularly its intensity and duration.
- Other trauma that an individual has experienced—especially child neglect and abuse.
- Working in a profession that is regularly exposed to trauma: military, doctors, first responders, police, and more.
- A past or current addiction.
- Poor social and emotional support from friends or family members.
Trauma comes in many shapes and forms. No list could contain all the traumas an individual may experience, but common forms include physical assault, sexual violence, being diagnosed with a terminal illness, combat exposure, receiving a threat, being bullied, child abuse (physical, emotional, or sexual), living through an accident (fire, car wreck, and more).
PTSD: Long-term Effects of Trauma
There are four types of effects that PTSD can cause:
Avoidance
PTSD can lead people to live in fear and avoidance or anything that in any way may be associated with the trauma they experienced. They may withdraw into a small world and cut out the good as well as the hard that life has to offer. When people are avoiding, they may…
- Stopping meeting up with friends or family members because they do not want to be in a crowd or feel trapped.
- Refuse to drive or ride in a car.
- Stop watching TV, avoid reading the newspaper, refuse to go to movies, et cetera.
Re-experiencing the Trauma
PTSD may cause people to relive the trauma again and again. Within moments, the feelings and the sensations can arise. When people are re-experiencing the trauma, they may…
- Be having night terrors or nightmares that remind them of the trauma or that replay the trauma.
- Experience intrusive memories or flashbacks that pop up at inopportune times.
- Be triggered by certain sights, sounds, or smells that bring the trauma to their attention.
Hyperarousal
Even after the danger has passed, trauma can leave people hyper-alert and unable to feel safe. Hyperarousal can look like…
- Being nervous, irritable, or angry.
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep.
- Difficulty focusing.
- Startling easily.
Negative Impact to One’s Feeling and Beliefs
PTSD can change the way that people think about the world, other people, themselves, and the trauma. People may come to believe negative, untrue things like…
- All people are unsafe and untrustworthy.
- The traumatic event should be forgotten and not spoken about.
- The world is a harmful, threatening place to live.
Appointments at Thriveworks Manassas in Prince William for PTSD
Whether PTSD develops or not may be outside of an individual’s control, but seeking help is within their control. Therapy is often the best way to fight back against the effects of PTSD.
If you are ready to start therapy for PTSD, know that Thriveworks Manassas in Prince William has appointments available. We also accept many different forms of insurance. Call today.
