PTSD and Trauma-Related Disorders
PTSD is one of many Trauma-Related Disorders. Even if you aren’t ultimately diagnosed with PTSD, you may still be experiencing a disorder as a result of trauma. As many of us know, trauma is like a movie that keeps playing over and over again in your mind and body. And when it plays it can bring with it images, sounds, sensations, negative beliefs, emotions and body distress. Sometimes it plays for no apparent reason. Other times, it starts playing when exposed to a “trigger.”
A trigger is an event that causes trauma survivors to re-experience the extreme feelings they had when their trauma(s) occurred.
Some triggers are easy to understand and identify, while others seem to happen with no explanation or warning. Triggers may feel like:
- Sudden feelings of fear, sadness or other emotional distress
- Flashbacks to traumatic events
- Fight or Flight responses
- Rapid heartbeat, sweating, trouble breathing
Not understanding triggers can cause those with trauma to feel as if they’re walking on eggshells, never knowing when those feelings will come back or why. They may feel:
A fear of being around others, of people seeing them in a vulnerable state, and the need to withdraw from social activities
- Difficulty imagining that they might ever feel ok, safe or whole again
- Guilt, shame, feelings of inadequacy, that they are inherently ‘bad’ or ‘wrong’
- A loss of power or control
- Difficulty trusting others or feeling safe
Trauma disorders come in many forms, and often carry with them secondary diagnoses of depression and/or anxiety. Some trauma is diagnosed as PTSD, but there are other types of related diagnoses. These include:
- Acute stress disorder
- Adjustment disorders
- Reactive attachment disorders
- Disinhibited social engagement disorder
According to a vast body of research, EMDR is one of the most effective and fastest-acting therapies for healing any sort of trauma, especially PTSD.
Trauma Statistics:
- Roughly 70 percent of adults in the United States have experienced a traumatic event at least once in their lives.
- Approximately 20 percent of adults who have experienced a traumatic event go on to develop post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
- Approximately 8.7 percent of all adults—1 of 13 people in this country—will develop PTSD during their lifetime.
- More than thirty positive controlled outcome studies point to the incredible success of EMDR therapy. Some of these studies show that 84%-90% of single-trauma victims no longer have post-traumatic stress disorder after only three 90-minute sessions.
As one of the few people in the area who is fully certified to provide EMDR as part of her practice, Kristina is uniquely positioned to help her patients overcome their past trauma and continue their process of healing.
EMDR takes away the overwhelming, triggering power of unwanted memories, and helps you feel in control of your life and your experience again.
If you’re experiencing the lasting effects of trauma, you need an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan by a licensed and certified professional. You deserve to move forward in a world not controlled by pain and fear.
If you think you may benefit from a complimentary consultation, or are ready to pursue treatment for your trauma symptoms, contact me today.
Reach Out If You Need Help
Need to know how to have that tough conversation about how you're feeling?
There are resources for you.
Reach Out If You Need Help
Need to know how to have that tough conversation about how you're feeling?
There are resources for you.
Kristina de Bree, MA, LMFT
Kristina de Bree is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with a private practice in Valencia, California. She is an EMDRIA Certified Therapist and Approved Consultant, meaning she is certified at the highest level to both practice and teach EMDR. She specializes in trauma and trauma-related disorders.
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