Healing from Trauma and PTSD

My clients often fear that “others have it worse.” They worry that they have no right to feel what they do.

Do you push feelings down?

Do they come back up in difficult ways, like panic attacks? Waking with night sweats? Do you feel like you’re avoiding certain things, feeling overwhelmed and don’t know why you’re upset or scared when everything is fine?

Doubting your right to feel is one of the insidious ways trauma and PTSD wreak havoc on our lives.

Trauma comes in many forms: emotional and psychological abuse, rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, bullying. The trauma from loss, hurt, and shame, and the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that can follow, can feel overwhelming.

Everything that happens to you, matters

Sometimes people talk about “little ‘t’ trauma,” referring to something “small” like… what? I can’t even think of an example of when any trauma might be “too little” to matter.

Loss of a loved one, didn’t get the job you really wanted, disappointment in where you are in life, an ache in your heart left by parents who were cold and isolating…

Trauma. Is. Trauma. All of your experiences count.

PTSD symptoms and trauma reactions

Symptoms, and the effects of PTSD and trauma, can range widely. Flashbacks are a common symptom.

But there are lots of ways trauma and PTSD can show up in life. Are you having a hard time keeping your job? Do you feel uprooted, like you’d be okay to just walk away from major responsibilities? Netflix and closing the curtains feel like perfectly acceptable things to do every weekend instead of going to the beach or that barbecue. Being around people, especially loud, happy groups, is exhausting.

These symptoms are frequently ways that my clients have learned to cope with the terror of living with trauma:

• Difficulty in relationships

• Feelings of worthlessness, or feeling numb

• Always on edge

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Panic attacks

• Anger

• Reckless behavior (i.e., driving in a dangerous manner)

• Substance abuse (alcohol, prescription medications, street drugs)

What’s trauma therapy like, anyway?

We start therapy with grounding techniques to establish feelings of safety. Then we address trauma and PTSD symptoms. We approach the trauma in specific ways to help you integrate and, ultimately, resolve traumatic memories.

We work at your pace, so you feel comfortable, safe, and grounded.