Trauma is an experience that produces injury to the body or the mind as from violence or an accident.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, known as PTSD for short, is a collection of symptoms that can develop after experiencing a life threatening or violent trauma, or witnessing a life-threatening or violent trauma. These symptoms can develop immediately after the trauma, months, or years after the trauma and they can interfere with everyday life.
Symptoms of PTSD
- Intrusive thoughts: thoughts of the trauma that make it difficult for you to think of anything else
- Flashbacks: re-experiencing the trauma in part of brief periods of time (seconds/minutes)
- Nightmares about the trauma and/or insomnia
- Fear, anxiousness, or avoidance of anything that reminds you of the trauma. Many people feel a need to run away from reminders of the trauma to feel safe.
Some examples of PTSD are:
- A person who has experienced domestic violence may become afraid when hearing loud angry talk or hear people arguing
- A person who has been stabbed may avoid knives or fear knives
Increased anxiousness can be triggered by anything that reminds a person of the trauma.
If you’re experiencing something that you think might be PTSD, we are here to help you. Talking with a medical or psychiatric professional is an important first step. Once we understand what’s going on, together we can make a plan so that you can lead a life that feels good for you.
If you’d like to come by The Nest, we’d be happy to talk more. Fill out this form to request an appointment.
