PTSD and Complex PTSD

Have you experienced a traumatic event? Or did you grow up with a sense of feeling alone, unseen, or unsafe?  Are you suffering from lingering fear and anxiety as a result? Do you feel like you no longer have any control over how you think, feel, and behave? 

Post traumatic stress disorder – also known as PTSD – is a mental health challenge that may occur in individuals who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a terrorist act, an act of war, a serious accident, rape, or any other violent personal assault.

Chronic or Complex PTSD – CPTSD – can develop as a result of continually feeling unsafe and alone with overwhelming emotions, particularly during the developmental years of one’s life.  It can also develop later in life as a result of repeatedly feeling unsafe, unseen, and misunderstood in a significant relationship.  

What are the Symptoms of PTSD?

People with PTSD often experience intense thoughts and feelings related to their traumatic experiences. These can last for a long time after the initial event. Many people with PTSD also relive the event through flashbacks and nightmares.

People with PTSD often feel intense emotions such as fear, anger, sadness, and detachment from friends, family, and community members. They often avoid people and situations that remind them of the traumatic event. Ordinary sounds or incidents such as a door banging or accidental touch in a crowd may cause a strong and uncontrollable reaction.

How Can Treatment Help?

EMDR – EMDR stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. This technique uses bilateral sensory input such as side-to-side eye movements to stimulate the brain to process difficult thoughts, memories, and emotions. 

The stages of EMDR that lead up to bilateral stimulation address the meanings, associations, and beliefs assigned to oneself as a result of experiencing a traumatic event, or chronically experiencing traumatic events.

If you or a loved one suffer from PTSD or CPTSD, and would like to explore treatment options, please reach out to me. I have personally seen amazing transformation through therapy and want to offer the help you need to enjoy life again.