Trauma and PTSD

There is a difference between strain and trauma. Strain is something difficult that you went through, but were able to sufficiently metabolize, process, or grieve. Trauma is something that is a bit more chaotic and overpowering that shocked your system and wasn’t able to be totally registered / fully processed. It leaves an unmetabolized experience in your unconscious leading to PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) complex around it that your mind continues to dedicate and distort your mental state around. Like a “rock in your shoe,” your mind rolls this experience over and over again, trying to understand it, but unable to fully resolve or untangle the knot. This can lead to an ongoing “living” PTSD that continues to trigger, leading to unexpected flashbacks or “flooding” of powerful feelings or memories related to the trauma. These can sneak up on you unexpectedly or be triggered by specific reminders of the trauma. Amidst the unpleasant experience, the person will often develop costly avoidance strategies that might significantly limit their lifestyle. Other symptoms can include recurrent nightmares / anxiety dreams, a heightened startle response, hypervigilance, and a difficulty feeling relaxed or safe around others. There are different degrees and findings of PTSD including “chronic PTSD” that might have more subtle detractors to your lifestyle throughout time. We will evaluate this complex phenomenon in detail, and craft a synergistic treatment plan to help solve it with you.