“I see people and their experiences through a trauma-informed lens. Instead of saying, “What’s wrong with you,” I say, “What have you experienced?” Without placing judgment on whether a coping mechanism is positive or negative, I see that an individual doing their best to adapt to a traumatic experience. In therapy, we can work together to develop different coping mechanisms and reprocess experiences.”
-Ericka Latham
Do any of these symptoms describe what you are currently experiencing?
Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event
Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks).
Upsetting dreams or nightmares about the traumatic event.
Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the traumatic event.
Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event.
Trying to avoid places, activities, or people that remind you of the traumatic event.
Negative thoughts about yourself, other people, or the world.
Hopelessness about the future.
Memory problems which include not remembering important aspects of the traumatic event.
Difficulty maintaining close relationships.
Difficulty experiencing positive emotions.
Being easily startled or frightened.
Always being on guard for danger.
Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much or driving too fast.
Trouble sleeping/ concentrating.
Irritability, angry outbursts, or aggressive behavior.
Overwhelming guilt or shame.
Traumatic events can disrupt the sense of safety and make it difficult for individuals to trust others. Therapy can help people address the traumatic event and process the emotions associated. Therapy can help challenge problematic thought patterns individuals may have developed about themselves and their world.
People who have experienced trauma may feel that their experiences, characteristics, or emotional reactions are unreasonable and unacceptable. Therapy helps to validate experiences and emotions related to the events.
Therapy: Seek out therapy for professional help to address these symptoms and other issues related to trauma.
Social support: When you’re facing challenges with trauma, it can be beneficial to turn to the other trusted people in your life. Opening up to a support person or a trusted friend can help change your perception and remind you that you have other people you love and rely on when situations become difficult.
Validate Your Experience: Remind yourself that what you are going through is a normal response to abnormal experiences. It’s important to remind yourself of this as you go through challenging symptoms because self-validation is an essential piece of healing.
Grounding Skills: Focus On Your Five Senses. Pay attention to things like shape, scent, texture, and color. Be as specific about these items as you can to make you concentrate on external factors and get out of your head. You will probably be back to the present moment before realizing it.
Use A Gravity Or Weighted Blanket: Using a weighted blanket implements deep pressure stimulation, which can support positive feelings, reduce stress, and increase the ability to sleep.
About 6 out of every 100 people (or 6% of the U.S. population) will have PTSD at some point in their lives. Many people who have PTSD will recover and no longer meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD after treatment. So, this number counts people who have PTSD at any point in their life, even if their symptoms go away.
About 5 out of every 100 adults (or 5%) in the U.S. has PTSD in any given year. In 2020, about 13 million Americans had PTSD.
Women are more likely to develop PTSD than men. About 8 of every 100 women (or 8%) and 4 of every 100 men (or 4%) will have PTSD at some point in their life. This is in part due to the types of traumatic events that women are more likely to experience—such as sexual assault—compared to men.
Veterans are more likely to have PTSD than civilians. Veterans who deployed to a war zone are also more likely to have PTSD than those who did not deploy.
