Traumatic stress can occur when:

• Something horrifying or harmful happens to us

• We witness it happening to someone else

• Or sometimes even just from hearing stories about bad things happening to others

Trauma symptoms can feel overwhelming

and greatly impact your life.

But we are often stronger then we know

and there are many things we can do to feel better!

Individuals with traumatic stress may experience:

• Problems with thoughts or sleep:  Intrusive memories, negative thoughts about yourself or others, problems concentrating, nightmares, problems falling asleep, insomnia, problems relaxing, difficulty trusting others
• Emotional distress: Anxiety, depression, irritability, anger, persistent fear or worries, guilt, shame, others, difficulty experiencing positive emotions like love and happiness, hopelessness, feeling jumpy or on edge
• Trauma-related behavior: Anger outbursts, avoiding people, places, events, or things related to the trauma, risk taking behaviors, not wanting to do things you used to enjoy, and exaggerated startle response. In children and teens you may also see acting out behaviors at home or school, a deterioration in academic performance, bed wetting, and  re-enactment of traumatic events through play or art.
• Dissociation: Feeling disconnected from your emotions, feeling numb, memory loss about an event or time period, feeling like you are disconnected from your body or the present moment, flashbacks about the trauma, feeling like things are not real or like you are in a dream-like experience

How can trauma symptoms impact you or your child?

Traumatic stress can negatively impact mental health, physical health, daily experiences, relationships, and outcomes for individuals if they are not able to heal. The good news is many people are resilient and can heal in many ways with the right support and treatment.

How can trauma treatment help and what are my options?

There are many effective types of therapy interventions that can reduce, eliminate, or manage trauma symptoms. The ones we use at Peaceful Shore Therapy include:

• Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT)
• Eye Motion Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)
• Brainspotting
• Mindfulness Skills
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
• Play therapy
• Family Therapy

While we are able to work with people who have experienced all types of trauma, we specialize in working with people who have experienced sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, intimate partner violence, job related traumatic events, and bullying.

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the trauma symptoms listed above, please contact us by emailing us or using the contact button.