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PTSD & Trauma Therapy

Have you been trying to manage your feelings and experiences on our own?

Do you feel your life lacks pleasure due to feeling numb? Do you constantly

battle negative thoughts? Disconnecting from your loved ones while experiencing

physical and mental distress that you can’t seem to move forward from? You may

be struggling to recover from Trauma.

 

Trauma is damage to the mind that occurs as a result of a distressing

event. Trauma is often the result of an overwhelming amount of stress that

exceeds one's ability to cope, or integrate the emotions involved with that

experience. Trauma may result from a single distressing experience or recurring

events of being overwhelmed that can be precipitated in weeks, years, or even

decades as the person struggles to cope with the immediate circumstances,

eventually leading to serious, long-term negative consequences.

What Are Symptoms of Trauma?

Anxiety

Intense Fear

Change in Sleep

Emotional Numbing

Change in Behavior

Change in Appetite

Withdrawing from loved ones

Nightmares

Exhaustion

Traumatic Events

Pandemics such as Covid-19

Illness

Grief, loss of someone or something

Job Loss

Betrayal trauma

Abuse

(sexually, physically, mentally and/or emotionally)

Witnessing an accident

Caregiving

Sexual Assault

Chronic Stress

Addiction

Natural disasters (such as earthquake, flood, tornado)

Man made disasters (such as bombings)

Violent person attacks (such as mugging, kidnap or being held captive)

Shock Trauma

Because trauma differs between individuals, according to their subjective experiences, people will react to similar traumatic events differently. In other words, not all people who experience a potentially traumatic event will actually become psychologically traumatized. However, it is possible for some people to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after being exposed to

a major traumatic event. This discrepancy in risk rate can be attributed to protective factors some individuals may have that enable them to cope with trauma; they are related to temperamental and environmental factors from among others.

Signs of Emotional Abuse

If you’re wondering whether it’s happening to you, here are some of the

signs: 

  • Yelling at you
  • Name-calling
  • Spewing insults or otherwise ridiculing you
  • Attempting to make you question your own sanity (gaslighting)
  • Invading your privacy
  • Punishing you for not going along with what they want
  • Trying to control your life
  • Isolating you from family and friends
  • Making subtle or overt threats
  • Expectations of you are never met (unrealistic)
  • They create chaos
  • Humiliate you in public
  • Treats you like a possession or property


Sexual Abuse

One in six women and one in 33 men in the U.S. has been raped or been the victim of attempted rape. After being sexually assaulted, it can be difficult to know where to turn for help. It is just as important to get help for the emotional impact of sexual assault as it is to receive care for physical wounds. Even if they think they are coping well, survivors of sexual assault often experience self-blame, lowered self-esteem, panic attacks, eating disorders, difficulty sleeping and concentrating, and problems with work and

social interactions. The National Women’s Study found that 30% of rape survivors suffer from depression. Rape survivors are also at an increased risk for suicide and drug abuse. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and fear are common among rape survivors. Interestingly, therapies that were designed to help soldiers with PTSD are now being used to help victims of

sexual assault. Symptoms Include:

  • Intrusive re-experiencing (through memories or reminders) of the assault
  • Avoidance of trauma-related stimuli or reminders
  • Alterations in thoughts and mood (negative thinking and depressed, anxious, or angry mood)
  • Increased arousal and reactivity (anxiety, hypervigilance, irritability, easily startle)

You might be in denial at first. It can be shocking to find yourself in such a situation. It’s natural to hope you’re wrong. It is common to feel confused, fearful, hopeless and shame. This emotional toll can also result

in behavioral and physical side effects. You may experience:

  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Moodiness
  • Muscle tension
  • Nightmares
  • Racing heartbeat
  • Various aches and pains

Types of Trauma Disorders such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A disorder in which

a person has difficulty recovering after experiencing or witnessing a

terrifying event. The condition may last months or years, with triggers that

can bring back memories of the trauma accompanied by intense emotional and

physical reactions. Symptoms may include nightmares or unwanted memories of the

trauma, avoidance of situations that bring back memories of the trauma,

heightened reactions, anxiety, or depressed mood. Treatment includes different

types of trauma-focused psychotherapy as well as medications to manage

symptoms.

Acute stress disorder (ASD): is an intense, unpleasant, and

dysfunctional reaction beginning shortly after an overwhelming traumatic event

and lasting less than a month. If symptoms persist longer than a month, people

are diagnosed as having post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Adjustment disorders: is a group of symptoms, such as

stress, feeling sad or hopeless, and physical symptoms that can occur after you

go through a stressful life event. The symptoms occur because you are having a

hard time coping. Your reaction is stronger than expected for the type of event

that occurred.

Reactive attachment disorder (RAD): is described in

clinical literature as a severe and relatively uncommon disorder that can

affect children. RAD is characterized by markedly disturbed and developmentally

inappropriate ways of relating socially in most contexts.

Specific treatment for PTSD will be

determined by your individual circumstances:

Age

Overall Health

Medical History

Severity of Disease

Tolerance of Medications

Tolerance of Therapies

Your Expectations

Your Preference

Tolerance of Procedures

PTSD TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR YOU

Treatment for trauma includes cognitive-behavioral therapy which helps

process and evaluate thoughts and feelings about a trauma. A number of

psychotherapy approaches have been designed with the treatment of trauma , such

as EMDR therapy, mindfulness techniques, as well as

Cognitive- behavioral Treatment (CPT).

Treatment Benefits: 

  • Help you calm and soothe yourself
  • Increase your awareness of, and access to, inner strengths and outside resources
  • Process specific memories, through carefully guided talk and/or writing
  • Challenge yourself to reconnect and do non-dangerous things you have been avoiding since the traumatic event(s)
  • Challenge trauma-based thinking, so that you can restore a healthy mental framework for living
  • Make meaning of what happened and how it has affected your deepest self and your family
  • Reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety
  • Increase a personal sense of confidence and competence
  • Regain your quality of life, including enhanced relationships with others, greater activity level, and more positive and stable mood
  • Reduce, if not eliminate, trauma-reaction symptoms/symptoms of PTSD


Begin Trauma and PTSD therapy near

Houston, The Woodlands & League City. As well as Midland & Belleville.

Our compassionate therapists, support and assist

clients to connect with their authentic self and learn to love, not hate,

themselves. Also, behaviors will be evaluated that are not currently working

for them. We utilize multiple therapy modalities based on the client’s

personality and problem. The therapy modalities are all research-based and are

showing success based on the particular problems and the client.

Our greatest desire at Therapy for Families is to help each individual

feel comfortable and hopeful about their therapy process.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns. We also offer a free

consultation to help assess how therapy can benefit you and help you

to feel peace and happiness again.

Services available online statewide

in Texas, Utah, California, Louisiana and Florida.