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Trauma & PTSD

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Trauma & PTSD

Get help with trauma

The pain of trauma is often avoided, misunderstood, denied, and minimized.
Trauma is not your fault. Release the trauma from your mind + body. ♡
You are Not Alone.

Approximately 12 million adults

suffer from PTSD every year.

know the signs & symptoms

  • Vivid Flashbacks
  • Anxiety
  • Nightmares
  • Negative Changes in Mood
  • Being on Edge
  • Distressing Memories of Event
  • Persistent Negative Emotional States
  • Heightened Reactivity to Stimuli
  • Avoidance of Situations that Remind You of the Event

Some life experiences can leave a deep and painful imprint on a person’s mind, which can affect their thoughts, emotions, and behavior.  This is especially true when the event you experienced impacted your sense of safety, causing you to experience changes in behaviors or reactions to everyday stimuli. Traumatic experiences can lead to PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), which can cause various emotional and physical changes that have a profound impact on your life.

Symptoms of PTSD vary and can manifest physically, emotionally, or behaviorally. For instance, veterans might avoid crowded places that remind them of their wartime experiences, while a car accident survivor might have recurring nightmares about the incident. Recognizing these symptoms is the first step towards healing.

  1. Physical Symptoms
    • Some physical symptoms of trauma include insomnia, fatigue, exhaustion, muscle tension, sexual dysfunction, and chronic pain.
  2. Behavioral Symptoms
    • Behavioral symptoms include irritability, anger outbursts, agitation, avoidance behaviors, social withdrawal, or reckless behavior.
  3. Emotional Symptoms
    • Emotional symptoms of trauma often include feelings of fear, guilt, depression, flashbacks, dissociation, guilt, or shame. Symptoms of anxiety are also present when people experience Trauma and PTSD. There are both mental and physical symptoms of anxiety.

Mental and physical symptoms of anxiety.

What is Trauma & PTSD?

Trauma is an emotional response to an event or situation that leads to complicated feelings, including distress and a loss of security. Traumatic events can leave victims in shock or denial, and every person may experience these emotions differently. Some traumatic events can lead to a disorder called Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD develops from a direct reaction to trauma, and it can leave a person feeling overwhelmed and unable to function in their day-to-day life. Overcoming PTSD is a complex process that requires knowledge of the inner workings of the mind and body. Manage your PTSD with our caring team at Heal Talk Therapy. We listen carefully to understand your background, triggers, and goals so you can better navigate your trauma responses and begin to heal. 

Trauma responses can be grouped into four categories. The first is Fight, which includes anger outbursts, desire for control, high expectations of others, bullying others, being physically aggressive, and difficulty seeing others' views. The second category, Flight, involves staying busy, being "on the go," gets lost in work, perfectionism, anxiety, and avoidance. The third type of response is Freeze, characterized by disconnection with self and others, isolating, can't make decisions, feeling numb, feelings of shame and depression, and feeling stuck, The last type of response, Fawn, leads to people pleasing, no boundaries, avoids conflict, a strong desire to be liked & fit in, codependence, and trouble stating your opinion. Our Oak Brook Trauma Counselor is here.

Managing Trauma & PTSD

Learning to manage trauma and PTSD takes patience and determination. A Heal Talk Therapy counselor will help you explore various techniques to cope with your symptoms. With the help of an understanding counselor, individuals can learn to manage their symptoms and navigate their path to recovery. Counseling provides a safe, supportive environment where individuals can express their feelings, explore coping strategies, and build resilience.

There are various therapeutic approaches, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Exposure Therapy, to help individuals process trauma and reduce their PTSD symptoms. For example, in CBT, individuals learn to identify and challenge distressing thoughts, helping them change their reactions to traumatic memories. We will create an individualized treatment plan customized to your needs.

Get Control of Your Trauma & PTSD.

HEAL TALK THERAPY CAN HELP you:

  1. Process Past Traumatic Experiences
  2. Rebuild a Sense of Safety
  3. Manage Flashbacks and Triggers
  4. Reduce Anxiety Levels from PTSD
  5. Develop Coping Strategies
  6. Reconnect with Daily Life
  7. Learn to Regulate Your Emotions
  8. Restore Trust in Relationships
  9. Reduce Negative Impact of Trauma

SELF-CARE for Trauma & PTSD

Practicing self-care and healthy habits daily can help reduce your symptoms of trauma and PTSD. Treatment + Self-Care leads to better outcomes. Our counselors can guide you in building healthy habits to support your physical and mental well-being.
A diagram of the self - care concept.

Talk to a Counselor Today

Seeking help for trauma and PTSD is a sign of strength, not weakness. It shows a commitment to reclaiming one’s life from the grip of trauma and restoring mental well-being. If you or a loved one are struggling with trauma or PTSD, remember that help is available. Healing from trauma and PTSD isn’t easy, but an experienced and welcoming therapist can provide the guidance you need to move forward after a life-changing event. With the right support, a healthier, balanced and more peaceful life is within reach.
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