Trauma recovery is possible with the right support and care. My specialized therapy approaches, including EMDR, TF-CBT, and DBT, help you process and overcome the effects of traumatic experiences.
Trauma is an emotional response to a distressing event or series of events that overwhelms an individual's ability to cope. These events can be singular, such as an accident or assault, or ongoing, like neglect or emotional abuse. Trauma can affect anyone, and its impact varies from person to person. The effects of trauma can be profound, influencing an individual's mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Common symptoms include anxiety, depression, flashbacks, and emotional numbness.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Individuals with PTSD may relive the traumatic experience through flashbacks or nightmares, experience severe anxiety, and have uncontrollable thoughts about the event. Symptoms often persist for months or even years after the trauma, significantly interfering with the person's daily life.
PTSD can impair the functions of the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. The amygdala, responsible for processing emotions, becomes hyperactive, leading to heightened fear and anxiety responses. The hippocampus, essential for memory and learning, may shrink, causing difficulties in distinguishing between past and present threats. The prefrontal cortex, which regulates decision-making and impulse control, may function less effectively, impairing judgment and emotional regulation.
Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) is a condition resulting from prolonged exposure to repetitive trauma, particularly during early developmental stages, such as childhood abuse or neglect or witnessing severe conflicts between one's parents. It can also happen later on, such as in cases of human trafficking or experiencing domestic violence. While it shares some symptoms with PTSD, such as anxiety and nightmares, CPTSD also includes additional symptoms like difficulties with emotional regulation, self-perception, and relationships. Individuals with CPTSD may struggle with feelings of worthlessness, persistent sadness, and a distorted sense of self. The chronic nature of their trauma can lead to more pronounced and enduring impairments in the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex functions.
People with CPTSD may also suffer from emotional flashbacks. An emotional flashback is an intense and often overwhelming experience in which a person re-experiences the feelings and emotional states associated with past traumatic events. Unlike visual flashbacks, where individuals might vividly recall and see the traumatic event as if it were happening again, emotional flashbacks primarily involve the re-emergence of emotions such as fear, shame, sadness, or anger. These feelings can be triggered by various stimuli or situations that remind the person of the original trauma, even if they are not consciously aware of the connection.
Treatment: To effectively treat trauma, PTSD, and CPTSD, I utilize eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy (TF-CBT). You may read more about these treatments under the Treatments tab.
