Do you live in a constant state of fear and anxiety? Are you easily scared or startled—say, by a gentle knock at the door or a nearby dog’s bark? Do you worry endlessly about what terrible things might happen to you? If so, you might have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
PTSD results from distressing traumatic events. It is a mental illness that many people associate with war veterans, but these aren’t the only individuals who suffer from PTSD. For example, victims of domestic abuse, policemen, firefighters, and those diagnosed with a life-threatening illness are at a heightened risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder—the common thread being one’s exposure to a psychologically disturbing event.
Trauma is a fact of life. It does not, however, have to be a life sentence. –Peter A. Levine
If you have been exposed to a traumatic event, it’s incredibly important that you work with a trauma therapist to manage any PTSD symptoms you might have and heal from the disturbing experience. Trauma therapists and PTSD counselors specialize in helping victims of trauma, and they can guide you on the right path of recovery. If you are in Royal Oak or the Oakland area, and you’re looking for trauma therapy, consider working with a trauma therapist at Thriveworks Oakland. Our team is dedicated to the Thriveworks mission of helping people live happy, successful lives. If you are haunted by a past trauma, please allow our team to help. You can easily schedule an in-person or online session by calling our office at (947) 217-3010.
PTSD Symptoms: Do I Have PTSD?
Victims of traumatic experiences suffer with day to day duties and activities. For example, they might struggle to concentrate on their work or feel paranoid when they’re at the grocery store; they might struggle to keep up a conversation with others or connect with their significant other. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) comes with specific symptoms and is diagnosed when the individual presents a set of these symptoms for 4 weeks or longer, following the traumatic event. Primary symptoms are as follows:
- Flashbacks or nightmares, which cause the individual to relive their trauma in one capacity or another. This causes significant distress.
- Numbness and avoidance of people, places, things that might trigger bad memories.
- Sleep disturbances, trouble concentrating, irritability, changes in appetite.
If you have fallen victim to a traumatic event, you might also feel disconnected or removed from your life, experience a reduced interest in things you used to love or enjoy, and experience bouts of anger, fear, guilt, and other unpreferable emotions. These symptoms can change from person to person.
Trauma Treatment: How Can Trauma Therapy Help Me?
Trauma treatment often involves trauma therapy and/or PTSD counseling. These therapy modalities are designed to help victims of trauma process their painful past, work through any psychological harm it has caused them, better manage PTSD symptoms, and so on. As with most forms of counseling, the individual’s specific course of treatment will depend heavily on their individual needs and goals. That said, there are a few common approaches to trauma therapy that prove beneficial for these clients:
- Psychodynamic therapy, which helps by searching an individual’s subconscious.
- Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TFCBT), which focuses on helping the individual process all of their thoughts and emotions related to the trauma.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), which is a newer approach, helping people better process trauma, guiding the individual through any roadblocks to one’s overall health and wellbeing.
If you have experienced a traumatic event, it’s important that you receive any extra support or guidance you need to process it and move forward. A trauma therapist at Thriveworks Oakland Counseling would be happy to help you.
Schedule Trauma Therapy at Thriveworks Oakland Counseling
Thriveworks Oakland Counseling is proud to offer many different mental health services, both onsite and online. We understand that the mental health problems and life issues one might experience are many, and therefore, it’s important that we are able to offer help for these varying challenges—one being trauma and PTSD.
If you have fallen victim to trauma, consider calling our office at (947) 217-3010 to hear more about our trauma therapy services or to schedule your trauma therapy appointment today. Remember: we have both in-person and online counseling opportunities. Choose your preference, and we’ll be happy to meet you there.
