Stress Management, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Counseling, PTSD, Psycho Educational Counseling

You have reached the professional Post Traumatic Stress services page of our website. Current services include educational materials, a free non-violence e-newsletter, psychoeducational programs and skill support services performed by experienced trainers.

WHAT IS POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER?

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a disorder generally caused by a sudden and unexpected event in which an individual often feels fear along with an inability to control the situation. Violence on some level is often involved or some form of violation or victimization is felt. PTSD is usually diagnosed when an individual feels a sustained stress reaction as a result of the event. However a stress reaction for any length of time is very troubling and difficult to handle for most people. Let me emphasize that a stress reaction as a result of one of these events is VERY NORMAL. We speak of these reactions as A NORMAL REACTION TO AN ABNORMAL EVENT.

WHAT IS A STRESS REACTION?

When we are having a stress or crisis reaction we can be expected to experience certain generalized symptoms. Not everyone experiences the same symptoms or the same number of symptoms. There is usually some level of confusion and a loss of a sense of having resources to deal with the feelings. Our normal resources that we have used in the past to feel better are not working. Victims often feel overwhelmed by the intensity and the sheer volume of emotions that are emerging. AGAIN, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO UNDERSTAND THE NORMALCY OF THESE REACTIONS. You are not going crazy, although it may feel that way. Some common symptoms of PTSD include the following:

Intrusive thoughts & images
Recurring dreams or nightmares
Flashbacks
Anxiety attacks
Crying spells & tearfulness
Feelings of shame or embarrassment
Guilt feelings
Withdrawal from others
Depression-diminished interest
Feelings of detachment or estrangement from others
Loss of trust for others
Confusion, disorientation
Restricted affect (emotions)
Avoidance of thoughts of trauma
No sense of future in life
Fear
Emotional/physical numbness
A sense of helplessness/loss of control
Feeling like you need to control everything & everyone
Anger/Rage
Difficulty in concentrating
Hypervigilence
High startle response
Somatic complaints such as headaches, muscle tension, nausea, eating, digestive problems
Difficulty in breathing
Cold sweats
Increased alcohol/drug use

What many people do is attempt to ignore or avoid talking about the symptoms in hopes that they will go away. Unfortunately they do not. They will go away much faster and there will be a healthier adjustment to the experience if it is talked about in a safe setting with an experienced clinician or an extremely supportive friend who is non-judgemental and does not offer advice, but instead just listens. This is hard for most people to find so usually either individual or group counseling is recommended.

SERVICES

NEWSLETTER (free) - Click here to register for our free non-violence newsletter covering all areas of interpersonal violence.

PTSD WORKBOOK - Trainers will respond to your questions by email as you work through the exercises in the workbook. The cost of the workbook is $25.00. It is full of information and exercises which will methodically build your awareness, understanding and skills and will promote the healing process.

SKILLS SUPPORT - Skills support services with an experienced trainer can be purchased at very reasonable rates and time frames. These services are not meant as a substitute for psychotherapy. They will be psychoeducational in nature and will in general focus on applying what you have learned to current situations. This service can be very supportive and can help to reinforce and fine tune your newly learned skills. It will be necessary for you to be working through the workbook to receive this service. The service will be meant to support that work. Please click here to sign up and view rates.