Trauma/PTSD
What is most surprising about trauma is just how “untraumatic” the events can initially seem. When neglect, abuse, or sexual assault happens to us, especially from someone we love, we are torn between the desire to keep the trauma a secret to protect our loved one and the need to proclaim what has happened to us to feel free. Because we didn’t “say no,” the events didn’t make us scared, it went on for years, or any other myriad of reasons, repression and denial are common. Thus, it is not the trauma itself that is hardest to endure, but the following, fractured life as we alternate between denial and reliving of the past. The more severe the trauma, the more fractured our lives become.
If we do choose to reach out to family or friends, the response can be minimizing or even blaming. This can be because they experienced the same trauma growing up, because they wish to hide from their own guilt, or simply because they cannot sit with the real pain you are experiencing.
Because of its subtle and complicated nature, recovery from trauma often takes a lot of time. There is much to unpack in terms of the confusing cognitive-emotional experience of the events and there must be an incredible amount of safety to be ready to do so. To work through trauma, we must really believe that the person we are with sees us fully, will not shy away from our pain, and will respond differently than how others have responded in the past.
Do know that life does get better. Even without treatment, resilience is the dominant human response to trauma and most people experience decreases in symptoms months to years later. With treatment, however, we can experience relief much more quickly. In addition, seeking treatment makes it more likely that we might experience “post-traumatic growth,” or feelings of personal empowerment and a clearer sense of our own priorities and value.
We have extensive experience working with interpersonal trauma and symptoms of PTSD. We are eager to help you experience freedom and vitality once again.