PTSD Trauma and Abuse

When the average person hears the phrase, “post-traumatic stress disorder” or “PTSD,” they will likely envision someone who has been involved in war. While many military men and women are affected by this condition, they are by no means the only people impacted by PTSD. Anyone who has experienced trauma or abuse, and people who witness traumatic or abusive events may struggle with PTSD. At Stokes Counseling Services, we work with those struggling with PTSD to overcome and address the underlying and associated issues in our Naugatuck office, virtually through telehealth counseling, and in your home as part of FAM Program.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a condition that occurs after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic, violent, or abusive event when the person is unable to recover. This can lead to a number of problematic physiological, emotional, and mental responses. Commonly, those with PTSD experience the following:

• Realistic flashbacks or reexperiencing that may happen at any time but is often linked to specific triggers like loud noises, certain smells, or seeing people related to the event
• Nightmares or unpleasant daydreams that revisit or replay the event repeatedly making it difficult to stop thinking about the traumatic event
• Intense emotional or physical responses like racing heart, sweating, radiating pain, difficulty concentrating, mood changes, depression, and anxiety
• Avoidance of situations, people, or things that may trigger memories of the trauma

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms above for weeks or months after the trauma, you should consider working with a trained counselor. In most cases, those struggling with PTSD will not be able to effectively address this condition without the help of a professional. When you’re struggling with PTSD, your body’s triggers for fear are elevated. That means you’re always on alert. This heightened state of alert places an excessive level of stress on your body, and over time, you may begin to struggle with regular daily activates like driving, working, or interacting with friends and family.

In most cases therapy services for PTSD will be very solutions-focused. There are three main goals during counseling for PTSD – improving symptoms, learning coping skills, and restoring a sense of safety. Your counselor may help you explore these elements in a variety of ways. This can include traditional talk therapy, cognitive processing or cognitive behavior therapy, prolonged exposure therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Stress Inoculation Training. We may also encourage working with a prescribing physician to receive appropriate medications.