PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) occurs in people who have witnessed or experienced a traumatic event or can even be a result of a long-term stressful situation. Individuals may view these experiences as physically or emotionally harmful or even life-threatening. These experiences may harm the individual’s physical, social, mental, or spiritual well-being. Some scenarios that may cause complex PTSD include serious accidents, war or combat, natural disasters, rape or sexual abuse or assault, bullying, intimate partner violence, or historical trauma. If you need a trauma and PTSD therapist in the San Francisco, CA, area, please give us a call. We’re here for you.

PTSD Symptoms and Diagnosis

People diagnosed with trauma and PTSD have disturbing feelings and thoughts about their triggering experiences long after experiencing the complex trauma they’ve suffered. They may feel anger, fear, or sadness, have nightmares or flashbacks, and feel isolated. Because they may be reminded of the triggering event, people living with PTSD often isolate themselves, avoiding people or situations. There are four categories for the symptoms of PTSD, and the symptoms can vary in severity. Those four categories are:

• Intrusion: Intrusive thoughts have repeated memories, flashbacks, or nightmares of the traumatic event. The memories may feel so real that the person may believe they are reliving the traumatic event. The brain gets stuck in a trauma loop and keeps reminding the individual about what happened. This can be often for those suffering from childhood trauma. Working with a therapist can help to get the brain out of a trauma loop and into a healthy balance. 

• Avoidance: People who have lived through traumatic events may try to avoid reminders of that event, which may include avoiding activities, people, places, situations, and objects that may trigger memories. They may resist discussing the traumatic event or how it impacted them. They believe that by avoiding things, they will be keeping themselves safe. It can be tough to get these people to agree on trauma therapy, it goes against their avoidant mindset.

• Alterations in mood and cognition: An inability to remember specific details of the traumatic event and negative feelings and thoughts that lead to distorted beliefs about themselves or others are common in individuals with PTSD. They may believe thoughts like, “I can't trust anyone,” “I am a terrible person,” etc. Being filled with guilt and shame about the cause or consequences of the event can lead to blaming themselves, and they may feel ongoing horror, anger, or fear in addition to the guilt and shame. Unable to experience positive emotions, they may detach themselves from others. 

• Alterations in reactivity and arousal: These symptoms can include having angry outbursts, being irritable, or behaving in a dangerous or self-destructive way. They may seem almost paranoid, overly aware of their surroundings, and waiting for the next problem to occur. People with trauma and PTSD may be easily startled or have problems sleeping or concentrating. Trauma therapy has to be delicately approached in reactive individuals.

Seek Trauma Therapy for PTSD 

If you or someone you love is living with trauma and PTSD, don’t despair. Working with a trauma-informed therapist can be life-changing, and there are many modalities available to help begin the healing process. If you live in the San Francisco Bay area, give us a call today for talk therapy with any of our PTSD therapist staff members. We can help improve your mental health with personalized trauma treatment. Living with PTSD doesn’t have to be permanent.