Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Trauma

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a clinical condition that can develop from direct exposure to or witnessing a terrifying event. Examples of direct exposures to trauma include sexual or physical violence, as well as waking up during surgery. An example of witnessing a traumatic event may include watching news footage with injured people. After experiencing a traumatic event, some individuals may initially exhibit acute distress symptoms, but for many, symptoms may appear years later.

Common symptoms of PTSD may include:  

• intense fear, horror, or helplessness to the traumatic event.

• recurrent and unwanted thoughts, images and or memories of the traumatic event.

• nightmares or distressful dreams about the traumatic event.

• sleep disturbances.

• reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening (such as flashbacks).

• emotional distress or physical reaction to cues of the traumatic event.

• avoiding thoughts, places, activities, people, or objects that serve as reminders of the traumatic event.

• negative thoughts about the self, others, and the world.

• being easily startled.

• loss of interest in activities.

• difficulty concentrating.

• difficulty experiencing positive emotions.

• irritable behaviors or outbursts of anger.

Seek professional support if: 

• your reactions and emotions related to the traumatic event persist for more than a month.

• avoidance behaviors related to the trauma interfere with your work, social life, or family life.    

• you feel like you are reliving the traumatic event for more than a month.

What to expect from therapy? 

In therapy, you can expect to : 

• discuss or talk about your traumatic experiences including social, psychological, physical distress. 

• reflect on your meaning of life and important relationships, helping you write your own life story.    

• learn and implement calming skills such as mindfulness, relaxation skills, and breathing exercises.

Different counseling models used for PTSD include:

• Cognitive Therapy 

• Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)

• Eye movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR)