“Trauma is perhaps the most avoided, ignored, belittled, denied, misunderstood, and untreated cause of human suffering. Although it is the source of tremendous distress and dysfunction, it is not an ailment or a disease, but the by-product of an instinctively integrated, altered state of consciousness. We enter this altered state–let us call it survival mode–when we perceive that our lives are being threatened. If we are overwhelmed by the threat and are unable to successfully defend ourselves, we can become stuck in survival mode. This highly aroused state is designed solely to enable short-term defensive actions; but left untreated over time, it begins to form the symptoms of trauma.”
Peter A. Levine, Ph.D. Founder of Somatic Experiencing
Have you experienced a traumatic incident, such as a car accident, assault or surgery recently or long ago? Or, have you been faced with ongoing childhood abuse or neglect? At the time of the traumatic incident, did you experience extreme fear that your life was in imminent danger? Maybe you felt as though there was no way out of the situation –it was inescapable, and you felt powerless, hopeless, and unable to protect yourself.
Traumatic events or situations carry high emotional charge: overwhelming sadness, anger, regret, shame, or profound dread. Are you are finding it difficult to shake the remnants of that fear and distress and wondering if your symptoms are all in your head, or signs of trauma? It is important to know that what you are feeling is a completely normal physiological response to trauma. It is not in your imagination. It is in your nervous system. And, it is treatable. You are not alone.
Is PTSD Limiting Your Life?
1. Are You Having Nightmares? Many people suffering with PTSD are troubled with intrusive nightmares. Disturbing memories trigger the threat response you had at the time of the traumatic incident and cause a looping phenomenon in your nervous system, circling around on itself until you feel trapped in seemingly never-ending distress. You may dread falling asleep because you fear that you will be plunged into nightmares again and again. And, troubled nights may be contributing to physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion during the day.One way to break that cycle as it happens is to sit up, turn on a light, and orient to the present time. Remind yourself that the incident happened in the past and you’re safe, in your bed, in the present moment.
2. Do You Notice Unusual Restlessness, Irritability, and Difficulty Focusing and Staying Engaged? Are You Easily Startled and Struggling with Panic? It may feel like you cannot relax because you need to physically hold yourself together and remain on guard. This is called hyper-vigilance. You might find that you are prone to jumpiness, hyperventilation, trembling, or uncontrolled sweating, even when you aren’t thinking about the trauma. PTSD often interferes with an individual’s ability to feel calm, safe, and present in the moment. After a trauma, you may sense that danger is always around the corner, even when it is not.
3. Are Muscle Pain, Migraines, Exhaustion, and Stomach and Digestive Problems Plaguing You? These are some of the normal responses to excessive over-activation of the nervous system. In a threat response, the body diverts essential energy to areas required for fight or flight, which leads to increased muscle tension and hyper-alertness. Other areas that the body deems less essential, such as the digestive system, receive less energy, so that functions like digestion slow down and are often incomplete. Carrying the burden of PTSD taxes your entire system physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Understanding that emotional pain and physical pain are similar might make it easier for you to look deeply into yourself and make a commitment to a reflective activity, such as meditation. When we can address and ease emotional pain, physical pain is often eased as well. Once you work with a trauma therapist and alleviate trauma’s effects, your body will not need to work so hard and will be able to find more complete rest, without a pervasive sense of exhaustion and discomfort.
4. Are You Avoiding and Withdrawing from People and Activities? After an experience of trauma, you might feel as though none your friends and family can understand you. Maybe you feel unsafe and fearful of what might happen if you trust people or engage in activities that require you to put yourself out there. You may feel so unlike yourself that once-loved activities no longer seem to hold any joy. You are not alone in this experience. When going out, many people struggling with PTSD feel like they are physically holding themselves in constrictive postures, as though they are trying to take up less space in the room and avoid being noticed. It is not uncommon to have unconscious desires to withdraw, contract, collapse, and try to take up less space following a traumatic event. One of our natural survival mechanisms is to become invisible to a predator. It may seem as though the whole world is a threat, and you can no longer open yourself to others or believe that you can be safe. Reaching out to supportive and affirming friends and family is the most effective way to combat some of your feelings of isolation and insecurity.
5. Are You Overwhelmed by Intrusive Thoughts and Memories? Seemingly unavoidable, sudden, and overwhelming thoughts are a disruptive and disturbing side effect of PTSD. This is related to the way the traumatic memory is stored in your brain. Any one aspect of the traumatic memory, such as a smell or sound, can trigger a cascade of memories associated with the trauma, including thoughts, emotions, body-felt sensations, and especially, fears. Sometimes, just challenging the authenticity or truth of these thoughts can be enough to interrupt the negative looping happening in our heads.
6. Do You Feel Self-Conscious or Ashamed? Trauma can be confusing. You might not fully understand what has happened to you or why you are having such a difficult time “getting over it.” Perhaps you blame yourself for what happened or for your lingering fears. These feelings as very common, but you have nothing to feel ashamed of. I encourage you to remind yourself that surviving a life-threatening event is a huge success. Survival, no matter what it looked like at the time of the incident, is courageous and worthy of celebrating. Embracing this may help introduce a little bit of self-compassion back into your life. And, no matter what you experienced, it’s important to remember that the trauma was not your fault.
7. Do You Ever Have the Feeling of Being Out of Your Body, Disconnected from Yourself and the Present Time? Maybe you remember feeling outside of yourself at the time of the traumatic event(s), as though you were floating outside of your body. Sometimes this disengagement is the most effective way to survive a threatening situation without becoming completely overwhelmed. Feeling disconnected to your body, even after the incident has passed, is not uncommon when you have PTSD. It was part of your nervous system’s survival technique. It allowed you to endure the event. Trauma often triggers the body’s natural painkillers, leaving you spacy, to lessen the burden of the discomfort. However, now, this sensation is no longer to your benefit, and it is definitely something that can resolve with help from a skilled trauma therapist.
8. Are You Finding Yourself Engaging in Harmful Coping Mechanisms? Have You Had Thoughts of Self-Harm or Suicide? If you are struggling with PTSD, it is likely that you are doing your best to find relief from your painful symptoms. Perhaps you have begun drinking or using substances in an attempt to numb out or block painful thoughts and memories. You might be lashing out when you feel threatened, which can have a huge impact on your relationships and career. Maybe you tried healthy coping mechanisms, such as exercise, but now you find yourself obsessed with keeping up your rituals, even when your body needs rest. Regardless of what you are attempting, know that you are doing the best you can with the tools you currently have. However, these tools may no longer be effective or healthy for you. Many people who suffer with PTSD experience thoughts of hurting themselves or suicide. This is definitely not something to fool around with. If you or someone you know are struggling with thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself, I urge you to reach out for help immediately to someone you can trust. If you are having a true emergency, call 911, check yourself into the nearest hospital emergency room, or call Colorado’s Crisis Hotline (844)493-8255.
Don’t ignore, underestimate, or make light of these urges. Call someone. Your wellbeing is important.
If you have answered yes to any of these questions, it is likely you are suffering with the aftereffects of PTSD. But, please be assured that if you are reading this blog posting, you are interested and motivated to make some very beneficial changes to help restore your health and wellbeing. Congratulate yourself and know that you have started taking the step towards relief and resilience. Early intervention is helpful in the treatment of PTSD.
No matter how long you have been suffering with these symptoms, recovery is possible. In PTSD treatment, I can help you with all of your PTSD symptoms. By addressing your trauma face on, you will be able to integrate the traumatic memories in such a way that they will no longer trigger the frightening and disruptive symptoms that are currently interrupting your life. With help and support, you can develop a better sense of personal power and be better able to manage challenging events. As you engage with life in the present, you may find that you are able to keep track of things and scheduled events with more accuracy and ease. You may also find that your chronic pain is alleviated, reduced, or made more manageable. Most individuals report a return to better sleeping patterns, an absence of nightmares and flashbacks, and less jumpiness. And, most importantly, you’ll be able to recall your traumatic event and account for it in the present moment, without getting sucked back into reliving it, as if it were happening all over again.
Trauma therapy can help you find a path forward. Reaching out for help is a sign of strength and courage. I invite you to contact me here to set up a free phone consultation to determine if you would like to seek ways to treat your PTSD symptoms and learn tools you can use on your own.
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