
Recovering from trauma is not easy. Depending on the type of traumatic experience you have been through, adjusting and coping can take time. In case your symptoms worsen, last for months or years, and start affecting your ability to function normally, it is a sign of PTSD and needs timely treatment. Liz Chelak is a certified clinical trauma specialist provides you a chance to feel heard and understood, which helps you heal from trauma successfully. She provides a safe environment where you can express your emotions and work through the feelings associated with a traumatic event to work towards recovery.
Begin personalized therapy, online or in-person, in West Palm Beach, and Boca Raton, FL.
PSTD is a serious mental illness that is extremely difficult to identify. It affects almost everyone who suffers from trauma. Symptoms of PTSD include physical and psychological problems such as flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and long-term uncontrollable thoughts. It is also one of the most expensive disorders to treat.
Thousands of people suffer from PSTD every year. It can cause significant distress and disruption in an individual’s life, affecting their ability to function daily.
Read on to learn what PTSD is, what factors can lead to it, how it is diagnosed, and the critical role of counseling in treating post-traumatic stress disorder.
What Is Post-traumatic Stress Disorder?
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that occurs in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, some terrible accident, a series of events, or a set of circumstances. Many people also experience PTSD as a result of some emotional or physical hazard that impacts their mental, physical, social, and spiritual well-being.
PTSD can lead to intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings that persist even after the traumatic event is over. Natural disasters, life-threatening accidents, acts of terror, war, rape or sexual assault, historical trauma and violence from a partner, and bullying can also result in PTSD. Studies indicate that almost 20% of adults in the United States who have been through a traumatic experience get PTSD. Also, nearly 4% of males and 10% of females will experience PTSD.
Almost 20% of adults in the United States who have experienced a traumatic experience get PTSD. Research shows that nearly 4% of males and 10% of females will experience PTSD.
What Causes Post-traumatic Stress Disorder?
Post-traumatic stress disorder is brought on by seeing or experiencing a shocking, extremely stressful, or terrifying event, either being a part of it or witnessing it. Although it is typically associated with soldiers returning from military service, it can happen to anyone who has experienced trauma.
After undergoing a traumatic event, many people experience several side effects that drastically affect their routine lives.
Symptoms can include:
- Flashbacks
- Nightmares
- Severe anxiety
- Jumpiness or extreme fear
- Feelings of grief, horror, and helplessness that do not go away
- Recurring negative memories
- Other physical and mental complications
- Avoidance behaviors or problems maintaining relationships with friends and family members
Some people may have negative memories, hypervigilance or uncontrollable thoughts about the events, and trouble sleeping. Recognizing PTSD symptoms is crucial for seeking the right treatment and functioning better. Under the guidance of a licensed counselor, you can learn to overcome the negative experiences you have been through, properly manage symptoms of PTSD, and live a healthy and productive life.
For more information about our counselors or to schedule an appointment for your therapy, call our office by number:
(561) 363-7994Risk Factors for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
People at risk for developing PTSD may have been through the following:
- Domestic violence or violence against a family or a close partner
- Sexual assault or rape
- Physical attack
- Unexpected acts of violence
- Neglect
- Unexpected events such as car accidents, natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or industrial accidents
- Being diagnosed with some life-threatening illness
- Sudden loss of a loved one
People who have experienced war and served as EMS or rescue workers, police officers, and firemen, are at higher risk of being diagnosed with PTSD.
It is important to note that experiencing these events does not guarantee that an individual will develop PTSD. Research indicates that people who suffered severe physical abuse such as rape or sexual trauma are at more risk of developing PTSD. Other traumatic events, such as natural disasters or witnessing a tragic accident, are less likely to cause PTSD diagnosis.
How Is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Diagnosed?
Not everyone who has been through a traumatic event will develop PTSD. The reason behind this is that several symptoms of PTSD are our body’s natural response to stress. While it is normal to have a stressful reaction after a traumatic event, it is necessary to seek medical assistance if unusual symptoms last longer than three months, cause distress, or begin to affect routine work and home life.
The National Center for PTSD outlines four types of PTSD symptoms that can help individuals concerned with potentially having PTSD.
Reliving the Event
Many people who experience trauma may have nightmares or flashbacks which makes them relive the event even years after the actual event. Those with PTSD may also go through triggering events in daily life. Even sights, sounds, or smells can remind them of their traumatic situation.
Staying Away From Triggering Situations
People who have been through traumatic experiences should avoid situations that remind them of the particular event. It is not uncommon for individuals with PTSD to avoid crowds, driving or public transportation, and certain movies or television shows. They keep busy and avoid talking to other people about that event or situation.
Negative Changes in Beliefs and Feelings
Posttraumatic stress disorder has the potential to change one’s way of thinking about themselves and others. Trauma can make them develop negative feelings towards people they once loved, causing them to detach from important relationships in their lives. Moreover, they may have negative feelings towards the world in general, believing it to be a dangerous, untrustworthy place.
Feeling of Hyperarousal
Individuals who have been through trauma may be jittery, aroused, or constantly on the lookout for danger. Individuals may find it hard to sleep, concentrate, and become easily startled.
If left untreated, PTSD can affect all aspects of an individual’s life, including their mental, emotional, and physical health. Research also suggests that extreme trauma has the potential to permanently disrupt or alter brain chemistry. People who experience any of these symptoms for some time need assistance from a licensed therapist or mental health professional.
For more information about our counselors or to schedule an appointment for your therapy, call our office by number:
(561) 363-7994Role of Counseling for PTSD Treatment
Counseling is a type of therapy that can help individuals with PTSD manage their symptoms and work toward recovery. It enables the individuals to process the traumatic event, identify triggers, and develop coping skills and strategies for controlling flashbacks, nightmares, and other signs of PTSD. The therapist can also encourage patients to develop a sense of safety and control, which can be critical in promoting recovery.
Individual, group, and family therapy are just a few of the formats that counseling may take for individuals with PTSD to alleviate feelings of loneliness and foster a sense of belonging.
How Can a Counselor Help in PTSD Treatment?
Counselors are crucial as first responders or early caregivers in PTSD treatment. They can use a variety of treatments to make their patients feel better. Individual treatment varies from patient to patient, but trauma counselors can help individuals select an appropriate treatment for recovering from trauma, depending on their situation and symptoms.
There are multiple types of treatment that counselors can use with their patients.
Some of them include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
It is a popular treatment that offers counseling for PTSD. A counselor works with patients and helps them understand and change what they think about their trauma and its effects. It focuses on making them realize how their thoughts about trauma worsen PTSD symptoms and encourages them to identify toxic thoughts and feelings about the situation.
Cognitive behavioral therapy therapy also empowers individuals to cope with intense emotional feelings such as anger, guilt, and fear.
Exposure Therapy
This form of therapy focuses on making patients overcome their fear of the memories of the traumatic event they have experienced. The counselors teach patients how they can gain control of their thoughts and feelings about the trauma they went through.
Talking about these stressful events again and again can make the patients less overwhelmed by them. In the case of post-traumatic stress disorder, dealing with the past can be tough. Instead of keeping your feelings bottled up and getting stressed, telling others can make you feel better.
Virtual Reality Treatment
Virtual reality treatment is an effective tool that helps patients overcome mental health issues. With the advent of Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, VR treatment has become even more accessible, and with the advancement of VR technology, superior outcomes can be expected.
VR is typically used for exposure therapy and exposes patients to a stimulated situation that would normally trigger their PTSD. Once exposed, counselors can guide their clients into mastering ways to overcome these issues. With professional support, patients can get accustomed to processing and overcoming their triggers.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
EMDR is a psychotherapy treatment that helps to relieve the distress that accompanies traumatic experiences. It is generally assumed that it takes a long time to recover from severe emotional pain, but EMDR has proved that the opposite can be true.
EMDR therapy can heal the mind from psychological trauma just as the body recovers from physical trauma. It is like when you cut your hand, the body works to close the wound. If a foreign object or repeated injury irritates the wound, it irritates and causes pain. Once this block is removed, healing resumes. EMDR therapy shows that a similar pattern of events occurs with mental processes.
Studies indicate that at least 80% of trauma victims who opt for EMDR can relieve their PTSD symptoms after just 90-minute sessions.
Seeking the best post-traumatic stress disorder treatment gives you a chance to regain control over your life and emotions. Your counselor can recommend the best therapy and medications to bring you out of your trauma so you can overcome the negative experience you went through. Counselors also teach stress management skills like relaxation, sleep, and exercise so you can better handle and cope with the anxiety that accompanies stressful situations.
Begin personalized therapy, online or in-person, in West Palm Beach, and Boca Raton, FL.
Working with a competent, trained counselor can help you get over unpleasant experiences and lead a fulfilling life. Liz Chelak is a certified clinical trauma specialist and has successfully treated patients suffering from a wide range of traumas. She teaches you skills to manage your symptoms and ensures you learn ways to cope if any symptoms arise again so you can think good about yourself, others, and the world.
Call the Trauma Therapy Center in WPB today and book an appointment with our trauma-informed therapist to take your first steps to healing now!