Traumatic Events/PTSD

Many people have experience traumatic events. These vary from rape to combat to childhood abusive experiences. Others have been in car wrecks, terrorist attacks or natural disasters. All of these experiences have the potential to have a negative long-term impact on your mental health. Often, people do not realize that some of the symptoms they are having are related to their history of trauma.

You might think that Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is only a diagnosis that applies to combat veterans.  This is untrue.  Other types of trauma can cause PTSD as well.  If you have untreated PTSD, you might have some of the following difficulties:

• Upsetting memories of the past arise at unpredictable times, and distress you.
• You have nightmares with themes of danger or you may have nightmares about the upsetting experience itself.
• You feel like the whole world is a dangerous place.  This can cause you to either be very timid and safety-conscious, or you could go the other direction and ignore potential dangers around you.
• You have difficulty trusting others, which interferes with the quality of your relationships.
• You may feel detached from others, or even be estranged from them.
• You may have anger management problems.
• You may have sleep disturbance.

People who have experienced trauma can be treated effectively and can gain mental health, even if the traumas occurred very early in life. I will assess your specific situation and help you develop the skills you need to address the continuing stresses you are experiencing. I will help you examine how the trauma has impacted your life, and help you learn how to make the life changes you’ve been wanting to make.

To learn more, check out these links:

National Center for PTSD

Common Reactions after Trauma from this site describes the symptoms of PTSD.  National Institute of Mental Health on Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Information for the Public from the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies

Please contact me if you are interested in learning more at 773-859-1822 or e-mail me.