PTSD stands for post-traumatic stress disorder and can occur when someone has experienced or had exposure to a traumatic event. Often we hear about PTSD from those who have experienced a military trauma, a natural event trauma like a hurricane or flood, or maybe had an experience with violence. While these are some of the situations and experiences where someone may struggle with PTSD there are so many more experiences that can also cause people to struggle with the symptoms of PTSD.
Symptoms that you are struggling with PTSD can affect every part of a person’s life. There are physical, mental, relationship, and emotional symptoms. If you are wondering if you may have PTSD or are struggling with some of these symptoms, we would encourage you to reach out to your family doctor or a therapist to further discuss how you are feeling as some of these symptoms can also be present in other concerns.
What might PTSD feel like physically?
- Easily startled or frightened
- Feeling as if you need to be on guard in all situations
- Looking at circumstances and needing to immediate assess for danger
- Choosing self-destructive behaviors such as possibly over-drinking, driving too fast, taking physical risks that you would not normally take
- Trouble sleeping
- Struggling with flashbacks
- Having nightmares
- Feeling restless and unable to relax
- Feeling irritable
- Unable able to control your anger
- Aggressive behavior
What might PTSD feel like mentally?
- Trouble concentrating
- Trouble working through processes to accomplish tasks you are used to doing
- Memory problems
- Trouble staying focused
- Avoiding thinking about the trauma, your life, or what you may need
- Always thinking about what has happened
- Choosing to be quiet and withdraw from talking with others
What might PTSD feel like emotionally?
Struggling with having negative thoughts about yourself, others, and your circumstances- Feeling hopeless
- Difficulty maintaining close relationships
- Feeling detached from friends and family
- Lack of interest in activities that you enjoyed before
- Feeling numb
- Difficulty expressing positive emotions
- Overwhelming guilt
- Feeling shame
There is help!
These are a few of the symptoms that can be present when you are struggling with PTSD. No one person is affected with the exact same symptoms and there can be other symptoms that can also be present. These symptoms can also be a result of other physical, mental, and emotional concerns.
When you are struggling with any of these symptoms of PTSD you should not try to walk this journey alone. There are many benefits when working with a therapist who is trained in tools that can help you manage your PTSD. That journey begins with having someone who will listen and respect your story. That is the first step with all of our therapists.
Working with a therapist will also help you to better understand and work through your personal story, the events and trauma that you have experienced. They can help you determine the triggers that you are struggling with. Once those are defined, they can help you to see how your physical body, mind and your emotions react to those triggers. They will provide tools that will help you to manage those triggers and allow you to have control back in how you will react and work through these concerns. Our therapists believe in providing individual tools and plans for each client that meets their needs and will help them to move forward towards the life they want to have.
For more information on the services that our therapists provide for PTSD and trauma please see https://upstaterestorativecounseling.com/trauma-therapy/