01Sep

Reliving Trauma: PTSD – The Practical Side

Has something bad happened to you and you feel like you keep reliving the event? I do not mean you had a bad date and keep replaying what happened in your mind. I am talking about having nightmares and flashbacks of a negative life event or living in a state of anxiety because you feel something bad may happen again. 

If this describes your daily life, you may have Posttraumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. It is common for individuals who experience traumatic life events to later acquire symptoms of PTSD, or full-blown PTSD. Some of these people include military men and women returning from war, victims of physical abuse and sexual abuse as well as many other survivors of disturbing events. Many people with PTSD have experienced or witnessed events that caused or had the potential to cause serious injury or death. Some symptoms of PTSD include: recurrent and distressing recollections of the event, nightmares, flashbacks, psychological distress when exposed to cues that remind the person of the event, trouble sleeping, irritability or angry outbursts, difficulty concentrating, hypervigilance and other symptoms.

PTSD can be very anxiety or “stress” provoking, hence its name. However, there are several ways to manage and ameliorate symptoms of PTSD. The first steps in healing involve stabilization and the identification and implementation of positive coping skills. A trained mental health counselor helps clients identify and implement ways to reduce feelings of stress, as well as the occurrence of other negative symptoms. Next, as the therapist continues to provide an emotionally safe environment, clients begin to process feelings related to the traumatic event. Over time and with multiple interventions, people with PTSD can find new personal strength and purpose and even begin to see themselves as survivors instead of victims. 

If you are suffering with PTSD, you can get your quality of life back. A counselor can provide the support, encouragement, safety and interventions you need to reduce your symptoms and begin to enjoy life again. Please call Life Enhancement Counseling Services today at 407-443-8862 to make an appointment.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Yolanda Brailey