Trauma Treatment
Are you struggling with distressing, traumatic memories? Anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and fears are just some of the symptoms that can develop following a traumatic experience. Sometimes it feels unavoidable, considering the traumatic experience you've been through. At other times, the event is vague, and it's unclear why these phenomena are occurring. In any case, it's essential for me that you know - it's possible to process and overcome painful traumas, and return to living a whole and meaningful life.
Traumatic events occur in the lives of many of us, but what varies from person to person is the ability to adapt and overcome their harmful consequences. We cannot change the past and prevent the violence, emotional neglect, or sexual abuse we experienced. Still, we can address them with the seriousness they deserve and from there develop, grow, and emerge stronger.
Online Psychological Treatment for Trauma
Trauma can leave deep emotional scars, but this doesn't mean they cannot be healed. A containing, empathetic, non-judgmental approach, while creating a safe and peaceful environment, will help us build a relationship full of trust and support that will lead to healing and a return to a full, satisfying, and meaningful life.
Only when you feel ready will we begin the process of remembering, exposure, and processing the trauma at a pace that suits you. Using trauma-focused treatment methods and integrative approaches that address all the physical, emotional, and spiritual layers that were damaged, we can deal with the painful memories, intense emotional reactions, and negative beliefs related to the trauma.
The emphasis in treatment will be on building emotional resilience, fostering positive self-perceptions, and developing a sense of control in your life, among other goals. Together, we will walk through the healing process toward a better and happier period in your life, where trauma will no longer control you.
I'm here for you
To schedule an appointment, leave your details and I will get back to you as soon as possible
FAQ
What is trauma?
Understanding Trauma
Trauma is a challenging experience or highly stressful event that exceeds the boundaries of normal experience and evokes a response of intense fear, helplessness, or horror. The accepted definition of trauma according to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) is: "Exposure to a traumatic event that evokes intense fear, helplessness, or horror, as a response to circumstances involving actual death or threat to life, serious injury, or threat to the physical integrity of oneself or others."
Traumatic events may include assault, rape, war, natural disasters, serious accidents, and so forth. Exposure can be direct or indirect (such as witnessing an accident). Trauma creates extreme psychological stress that exceeds a person's coping ability and can cause prolonged psychological consequences such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD), depression, anxiety, and various functional difficulties.
It's essential to recognize that individuals react differently to similar events, so the definition also encompasses the subjective component of the acute emotional response to the event. One event may be interpreted as trauma by one person but not by another.
Additionally, not every person who experiences trauma will develop post-traumatic phenomena. Most people will experience spontaneous recovery from the difficult event, and within a few months will no longer suffer from trauma symptoms. However, for those who do develop persistent symptoms, appropriate treatment will be needed to process the trauma and overcome its consequences.
What are the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder?
Here are the main symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) resulting from a traumatic experience. Not everyone will experience all symptoms, and sometimes a single symptom is enough to impair functioning and disrupt continuity of life, warranting professional treatment.
-
Intrusive and recurring memories of the traumatic event - Involuntary memories, daytime flashbacks, and nightmares.
-
Severe anxiety attacks - When the person feels as though the event is happening again, experiencing physical symptoms such as trembling, sweating, and rapid heartbeat.
-
Avoidance of trauma-related triggers - A person will begin avoiding thoughts, places, activities, and people that remind them of the event.
-
Depression - Low mood, loss of interest, and inability to feel positive emotions.
-
Emotional detachment - Feelings of disconnection from situations and other people.
-
Physical symptoms - Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, concentration problems, and excessive irritability.
-
Memory impairment and cognitive problems - Inability to remember parts of the event, and experiences of poor concentration and confusion in certain situations.
-
Extreme and exaggerated negative thoughts - Relating to oneself, others, and the world.
Symptoms can begin immediately after the event or appear months or years later. It's essential to seek treatment if symptoms persist for more than a month or as soon as they begin to interfere with daily functioning.
How can I prevent post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms from worsening?
First and most important is to avoid further trauma exposure - both physically distancing yourself from frightening and dangerous places, from the person who caused harm, and their environment. Still, it's also crucial to avoid watching media that contains disturbing content related to the context in which the trauma occurred (violence, car accidents, hospitals, for example).
Second, seek support and strengthen yourself through all available means:
Social support - connecting with loving and supportive people, sharing experiences and emotions - can significantly help prevent isolation and depression.
Stress relief techniques, such as meditation, breathing exercises, yoga, and exercise, can help release tension and strengthen your ability to cope with stress.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle - Proper nutrition, adequate sleep, and avoiding alcohol and drugs help maintain mental stability.
And of course, psychological treatment - Early psychological intervention can prevent the development of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Sometimes, short-term intervention to gain recognition and understanding of what you're going through, even if it's not yet severe, can help symptoms fade before they develop into full PTSD.