Trauma and PTSD Recovery

Trauma is not always easy to overcome.

First comes a sleep disruption. The nightmares are so vivid, and it can lead to waking up covered in sweat. Being around where it happened becomes so unbearable that you go out of your way to avoid it.

Once you start thinking about it, you can’t stop, so you do your best to stay busy. Friends and family begin noticing that something has changed in you. Life isn’t as vibrant, hobbies aren’t as interesting, and isolation becomes more comforting.

These may be symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Exposure to a traumatic event, such as the threat of violence or death, does not always lead to the development of PTSD.

People experience common emotions such as fear, anger, confusion, or helplessness after a traumatic event, but they may not develop PTSD. Why is that?

The proper support helps with recovery.

A person’s belief system before the event can impact whether they recover in a typical fashion or get stuck in the trauma.

In therapy, we examine how traumatic events have impacted these belief systems. If a person automatically thinks that things are their fault, the traumatic event will reinforce that belief. If people are taught that only bad things happen to bad people, they might think they must be at fault.

The right support system can significantly influence recovery. Receiving the message, “It wasn’t that bad,” rather than “I can’t imagine what you went through,” can make a significant difference. One of the most common phrases I hear is, “If I weren’t there, it wouldn’t have happened,” as if the person forgot their crystal ball at home.

A sound support system is often the difference between recovery and staying stuck. I am not a betting woman, but if I were, I would bet those individuals who develop PTSD have a poor support system or lack one altogether.

There is hope for healing from trauma.

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is an excellent alternative to EMDR. It focuses on healing from traumatic experiences. CPT is a type of therapy structured across 12 sessions developed to treat symptoms of PTSD and is like Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy.

Each session involves evaluating different belief systems before and after trauma. The process also involves writing out a detailed narrative of the traumatic event. Often, people who have shared their stories repeatedly can become numb about the experience. Writing out the details forces individuals to feel the emotions they have learned to suppress.

I encourage clients to read the narrative aloud in the session. Although this can sound extraordinarily daunting, I allow my clients the space and time to write and read the narrative. The structure is supposed to involve 12 sessions, but the process usually takes longer than that. And that is okay. Healing is meant to be a marathon, not a sprint.

Are you ready to start healing from trauma?

If so, contact me today for more information on how we can work together to help you overcome the effects of trauma.