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.
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.
Do you experience any of these trauma responses?
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)