Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is characterized by the somatic, cognitive and emotional reactivity experienced long after a traumatic event. We all experience bad things from time to time, but the difference between a bad experience and a traumatic experience is that traumatic experiences produce a physical response, an intense emotion, typically a negative thought or belief, and thinking about the memory feels disturbing to us even years after the event. We may find ourselves remembering the event from time to time randomly or in response to something triggering which could even result in physically lashing out or temporarily losing control of ourselves.
Typically when we think of PTSD, we think of soldiers who have returned from war, but nearly everyone has experienced trauma at some point in life. Some traumas can be thought of as big “T” Traumas. These typically involve a perpetrator such as in a rape, armed robbery, bullying, war, or kidnapping. Other traumas might be thought of as little “t” traumas. Little “t’ traumas are experiences such as feeling embarrassed during a school presentation, being in a scary car accident, being made fun of as a kid, or grieving the loss of a loved pet. While we might be inclined to think of little “t” traumas as less severe than big “T” Traumas, the resulting symptoms can be similar and still interfere with our lives and goals.
If you have experienced a traumatic event or believe you might be suffering from PTSD and would like help managing and treating your symptoms, you can contact me here to schedule an appointment or a free 15 minute phone consultation.
Treatment
One of the best therapeutic models for treating trauma and PTSD is a process called Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), and you can learn more about it here.
I also combine EMDR processing with techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and you can learn more about that here.
In addition to EMDR and CBT, I include Mindfulness breathing and meditation which you can read more about here.
Finally, medications might be helpful or necessary in combination with psychotherapy. You can read more about my procedure with medication here.