No one deserves to go through a trauma. The impacts of it can spread over your entire life, making it hard to go about even the most mundane activities. When trauma starts to impact your job, sleep, social life, dreams, emotions, and so much more, it can feel like healing is impossible. Trauma likes to tell the lie that you are helpless and alone.
While all the pain, anger, anxiety, depression, numbness, and everything else you might be feeling in the wake of trauma is very much real, they don’t have to be emotions you feel forever. Healing from trauma is possible. In fact, 75% of people recover fully from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder- a common diagnosis after experiencing a trauma) (source).
Thriveworks Middleburg Heights trauma therapists understand that the strength it takes to even consider getting help is immense. Healing can be an uphill battle, especially against trauma. But with the right tools, support, and time, it is more than possible. You deserve to have a life filled with peace, confidence, and joy. Let’s get started on building that life today.
What Are Symptoms of Trauma and PTSD?
Traumatic events come in all shapes and sizes. It might be one solitary event. Or it was a collection of small ones throughout time. It can even be one elongated stressful life circumstance, such as living with chronic illness or under poverty. There isn’t a list of qualifications for trauma; it can come from anywhere.
Trauma also reshapes the brain. It breaks down connections in our brain and builds new ones, essentially rewiring us. A lot of people who have lived through a trauma says it feels like two separate lives- before the trauma, and after the trauma.
But our brains are also extraordinary in their ability to heal. They are less like stone that chips away and never grow back and more like clay. It is constantly learning and growing. This skill is called neuroplasticity and is a huge reason why you can make a full recovery from trauma.
When deciding to reach out for help due to a trauma, it can be easy to tell yourself that your trauma is too big, or maybe not big enough. Thriveworks Middleburg Heights trauma counselors wants you to know that there is no problem that is too big or too small. No matter where you are at in your healing journey, we would love to meet you and talk with you through the next steps.
Common symptoms a person struggling with trauma might show include:
- Recurrent nightmares
- Flashbacks
- Emotional numbness
- Jittery/always on edge
- Difficulty concentrating
- Hesitancy to open up to other people
- Persistent feelings of fear, horror, guilt, or shame
- Diminished interests in previously enjoyed activities
- Difficulty feeling any positive emotions
- Feeling detached from yourself or the world
- Stomach pains
- Head aches
- Muscle/body pain
Trauma can feel isolating. Everyone reacts to a trauma differently, and this can make it seem like no one else understands what you are going through. But you are not alone. You don’t have to heal alone, either.
What Does Therapy for Trauma Look Like?
Thriveworks Middleburg Heights, OH believes in a research-driven but client-centered approach to our therapy sessions. Everything we do is backed by science, and our counselors work hard to stay up to date on the newest research. At the same time, we understand that the greatest component for healthy change is you. We structure each therapy session around your unique person- your passions, goals, hobbies, friends, and everything in between is an important part of the therapy session.
On the science side, we might talk about:
- Effective coping skills (such as relaxation exercises, anger-management techniques, and guided imagery, to name a few)
- Guidance on how to better manage sleep, exercise, and diet
- Help identifying and addressing any guilt, self-blame, or other negative emotions surrounding what happened. Trauma is never your fault.
- Address suppressed emotions
- Address any comorbid struggles such as anxiety, depression, or substance abuse
- Use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – a proven technique to reduce symptoms of PTSD that focuses on the link between your thoughts, behaviors, and emotions.
- Use Eye Movement Desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) to process the memory of the trauma and give your brain the space to physically heal.
Trauma has a complex interaction with our brains. It can be time consuming and exhausting to untangle yourself from trauma, but with the right support you can get there. For more information, or to schedule an appointment today, give us a call at (380) 201-3145.
