Illuminating Hope: Understanding and Supporting PTSD
June is PTSD Awareness Month, a time dedicated to spreading awareness, understanding, and support for those affected by Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This condition is often associated with veterans because of what they saw and experienced while they served our country. But, It can affect anyone who has experienced a traumatic event or witnessed a traumatic event.
Raising awareness is crucial for fostering a supportive environment and encouraging people who have PTSD to seek help.
PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. This can include anything from combat exposure, natural disasters, serious accidents, or personal assaults. Symptoms of PTSD can vary but generally fall into four categories:
Intrusive Memories: Unwanted and unprovoked recurrent, unwanted memories of the traumatic event, flashbacks, or nightmares.
Avoidance: People avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event or avoid places, activities, or people that remind them of it.
Negative Changes in Thinking and Mood: They have negative thoughts about themselves or others, feelings of hopelessness, memory problems, and difficulty maintaining close relationships.
Changes in Physical and Emotional Reactions: A person with PTSD can feel easily startled, feel on guard, have self-destructive behavior, have trouble sleeping, and be irritable.
Awareness is the first step towards change. By increasing our understanding of PTSD, we can reduce the stigma that often prevents people from seeking help. Many people with PTSD avoid seeking help due to stigma or lack of understanding about the disorder. We want to understand the challenges faced by those with PTSD, which can foster empathy and support within families, communities, and workplaces. Trauma overwhelms our system as a person; we can’t heal on our own.
If you think you may have PTSD or know someone who is, please seek help.
What can you expect from therapy? There are different types of therapies to treat PTSD: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), particularly Trauma-Focused CBT, is effective, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is another therapy designed explicitly for trauma. Generally, in these therapies, you will learn coping skills to manage the symptoms of PTSD; you will NOT dive right in and start talking about the trauma.
Some people fear therapy because they do not want to talk about their trauma. Once you feel safe, you can slowly begin talking about the trauma. The goal is healing and helping you handle situations without being triggered or retraumatized. Another form of treatment is medication, which can help manage symptoms, especially if therapy alone is not adequate. Joining a support group can provide a sense of community and understanding.
We help reduce stigma, encourage individuals to seek help, and promote a society where mental health is taken seriously. Remember, PTSD is a manageable condition, and with the proper support and treatment, those affected can lead healthy, productive lives. Light The Way is here for you and help you along your healing journey. Want to learn more? Give us a call. Several of our therapists work with trauma and PTSD.
About Erica Realpe, MA LMFT
Helping individuals, couples, and families heal and create better relationships. Erica is available in Midland Park and telehealth. Sessions are available in English and Spanish.