Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Are you struggling with symptoms of PTSD?

Have you suffered a traumatic or stressful event recently or at any time in your life, leaving you with these issues?

• Trouble functioning at home or work
• Terrifying memories or flashbacks of the event(s)
• Avoiding things and places that remind you of the trauma
• Feeling emotionally numb and disconnected from others
• The inability to trust others
• Feeling like you are always on high alert, waiting for the next dreadful thing to happen
• Severe fear, anxiety, or depression
• The burden of guilt or self-blame about the trauma

Then it is imperative that you seek help as you may be suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or having trauma reactions. To schedule an appointment, call our office (248) 563-0587 or complete our appointment request form.

You may be wondering if you have ever experienced a Traumatic Event

Examples of traumatic events can include:

• The sudden or violent death of a loved one
• Being the victim of a crime like rape, burglary, breaking or entering
• Bullying
• Verbal, physical, or sexual abuse
• Car accident
• A natural disaster
• Discovery of a life-threatening illness.
• Witnessing a traumatic event

Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) is a response to chronic or repeated traumatic events over the course of months or years. Often this will take place within a family or intimate relationship. Typically, but not always, occurring in childhood, it impacts psychological and neurological development. Examples include repeated emotional, sexual, or physical child abuse, abandonment and domestic violence.

Symptoms of CPTSD include :

• Emotional flashbacks
• Toxic shame
• Self-abandonment
• A vicious inner critic
• Social anxiety

How Does PTSD Therapy Work?

At New Perspective Counseling, our therapists specialize in PTSD treatment. We use both traditional insight-oriented and skill-building therapies as well as the brain-based PTSD therapies of EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) and Brainspotting to help clients move through trauma therapy.

Traumatic events can get stuck in the limbic “fight or flight” part of the brain. When the memories are “triggered” it can feel as if you are “reliving” the traumatic event.

Processing memories and feelings in a safe environment unlocks them from the fight or flight part of the brain. The brain-based therapies help to re-file the traumatic event(s) so the memories and “triggers” no longer cause intense emotional and physiological reactions.

When providing PTSD treatment, our therapists create a safe and sensitive environment where you can also learn new healthy coping skills and if needed, new skills for interacting with those around you. Since many PTSD symptoms can be experienced in the body, our approach also entails helping clients learn to listen to their bodies so that they can discern what reactions are about the here and now and what reactions are about past trauma.

As you go through this process you will begin to feel calmer, more confident and better able to handle the ebbs and flow of life. Many people who go through PTSD treatment are initially hesitant or even scared to work through their trauma, worried they will feel worse. Our therapists work at your pace making sure you have a sense of safety along the way. Most clients will notice an improvement in their day-to-day life and relationships as they progress through PTSD therapy.

Past trauma, PTSD and other mental health issues can’t wait. New Perspective Counseling is here for you.