Long Term Recovery From Trauma / PTSD
Years ago when Jill was a student at a major university, she was sexually assaulted by two men. Following the event, Jill sunk into depression and found it impossible to attend classes or even leave her room.
Experiencing trauma is more common than you think. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, about 60% of men and 50% of women experience at least one trauma in their lives.
While we hope to never endure trauma ourselves, you or someone you love may be struggling with something traumatic that happened to them recently or years ago.
Everyone goes through the same steps when dealing with Trauma. Individuals first enter the Emergency Stage when they try to deal with the experience in the days and weeks right after it occurs.
Next comes Denial when we do our best to avoid upsetting emotions, try to be tough, and shake it off. This can be a time when we embrace alcohol or drugs as a way of numbing intense feelings.
You can get short term recovery by adjusting to everyday life and returning to a sense of normalcy. Jill was experiencing symptoms of PTSD and worked with a therapist to come work through the trauma and put an end to nightmares and intrusive thoughts that were interrupting her life.
Not everyone who experiences trauma will develop PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). PTSD is a disorder that results from someone experiencing a traumatic event and who continues to experience symptoms relating to the trauma. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, only about 7-8% of people will have PTSD at some point in their lives.
Finally, there is a long term recovery phase for Trauma and PTSD. During this time it is essential for the individual to have ongoing support from a therapist, family, and friends. Our human brains protect us by remembering traumatic experiences. With the help of therapy and group support, Jill was able to get her life back on track.
Please contact our office if you or someone you love is struggling with Trauma / PTSD.
