TRAUMA & PTSD
It’s critical to comprehend what you’re going through in order to effectively deal with and combat it. Trauma is a term used to describe events that have been proven to cause significant distress. In reality, trauma is a reaction to any event that is distressing to an individual’s subjective realityIt’s critical to comprehend what you’re going through in order to effectively deal with and combat it.
Trauma is a term used to describe events that have been proven to cause significant distress. In reality, trauma is a reaction to any event that is distressing to an individual’s subjective reality.
It might be:
- Separation/divorce/death causes the loss of a loved one/relationship.
- Childhood Abandonment/Neglect
- A witness to a collision
- Assault (Physical/Sexual)
- Illness that persists over time
- Bullying
“I haven’t felt anything since that day, and it’s been two years.” It feels numb and like there’s a void inside of me that’s slowly eating me away. When the session was focused on recalling the traumatic memories of a physical assault she had experienced at the hands of her colleagues, a 24-year-old female told her counselor, “No one knows what I’m feeling because I don’t trust anyone anymore.”
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD)
PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, is a psychological condition that develops after a traumatic event. PTSD can be brought on by witnessing or experiencing a threatening event. Physical trauma, such as sexual assault, natural disasters, and military combat, or emotional trauma, such as neglect, abandonment, and abuse as a child or as an adult, are examples.
SIGN AND SYMPTOMS OF PTSD
There are four different types of symptoms, but they are not all the same for everyone. Symptoms manifest in different ways for different people.
At any time, overwhelming and unwelcome memories of the trauma can surface. They have the ability to make you feel extremely anxious and scared because they believe the event is taking place right now. Nightmares and disturbing dreams can also trigger flashbacks. The triggers for these flashbacks can sometimes be found in everyday activities, such as watching a movie in which the protagonist is dealing with trauma similar to your own or hearing a car backfire bringing back memories of gunfire for a combat veteran.
You may find it difficult to trust others and believe that the world is a dangerous place. It’s common to have negative feelings about yourself and the people around you when you have PTSD. It may become difficult to enjoy the things you once did. You may have a strong sense of guilt and shame, and you may be trying to punish yourself for not doing enough to save yourself. It can be difficult to keep your relationship going. Having memory problems, such as being unable to recall portions of a traumatic event, can be aggravating.
You might try to avoid certain people or situations that could serve as a reminder of the event. After a traumatic event, you may isolate yourself to avoid becoming overwhelmed, or you may be unable to experience anything because you are numb. When a student has been assaulted in college, it is common for them to skip classes.
Feeling jittery or always on the edge is another symptom of PTSD. As you are always on the lookout for danger, you may have trouble sleeping or concentrating. For example, someone who has been physically assaulted might be startled by a loud noise.
Following the trauma, you may try to cope in your own ways, such as avoiding thinking about it, using drugs or alcohol to block out memories and negative experiences, or engaging in impulsive behaviors such as quitting your job or leaving your home. These are, however, only temporary solutions and represent a maladaptive coping strategy. It’s understandable that you don’t want to be reminded of the trauma’s painful feelings and memories, but numbing yourself or fighting them only makes things worse. Even if you lock them away, they will return when you are too tired to keep the guard up. They will have a negative impact on you, your relationship, and your overall health, as well as the quality of your life
What can you expect from sessions with a counselor?
- Getting rid of your PTSD symptoms
- Getting rid of flashbacks is a difficult task.
- Being able to manage your anxiety and depression is a huge step forward.
- Possibility of creating self-care routines
- Healthy coping mechanisms for upcoming or anticipated stress
- Improved mental and emotional toughness in dealing with stressful situations in the future
