Many of us have had traumatic experiences, such as serious illnesses, deaths of loved ones, or other losses that may affect our lives. At the time of the stressful incident, we may feel very afraid, sad, or angry at the situation. Usually, these negative feelings fade with time, and life gets back to normal.

Sometimes people experience extreme traumatic experiences where the stress they felt at the time may have felt life-threatening. The horror from such trauma may have been so distressing, that the memory of what happened does not seem to fade away with time. They may experience a heightened state of anxiety, persistent disturbing thoughts related to the trauma, flashbacks, avoidance of certain situations, people, or places; and depression. When these symptoms interfere with a person being able to move on with their lives and function normally at work or in social situations, this condition may be diagnosable as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

When most people think of PTSD, they may think of combat veterans. While it is true that many soldiers have been traumatized by the atrocities they experienced in combat, this is not the only population who may be diagnosed with PTSD. Victims of childhood sexual abuse or rape or victims of other crimes such as domestic violence or robbery may experience the symptoms of PTSD. A person may even experience symptoms of PTSD if they felt that their life was being threatened, without anything physical ever happening to them. The important factor in diagnosing PTSD is that the stress of the traumatic incident was so extreme, that the person may have felt that they were in severe danger and the person is experiencing symptoms related to that event and has been unable to let go of emotions and thoughts associated with that event. Approximately 1-14% of people experience PTSD at some point during their life. It can occur in childhood as well as adulthood.

Luckily, PTSD is not a permanent condition and is very much treatable with help from a mental health professional. If you think you might have PTSD, find a psychologist or mental health counselor who is experienced in treating the condition in order to receive proper diagnosis and treatment. Here are some considerations in finding the right therapist for you:

Ask the therapist about her/his experience in working with clients with PTSD.
Find out what model of therapy they use (PTSD is often treated using a "cognitive-behavioral" therapy model, EMDR may also be utilized).
Ensure that the therapist you choose does not minimize your feelings. They should listen to you and give you feedback, as well as respect your opinions.
Above all, make sure that you are comfortable with the therapist.

Keep in mind that full recovery from the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder may take some time and feelings of discomfort during treatment may arise at some point during therapy. The right therapist will make themselves available to you throughout your treatment and work with you to overcome your symptoms.

What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

For more information or help with this issue CALL The Women’s Center Counseling Services 242-1526 or 242-3110 ext 328.