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PTSD + Trauma

Hiking in the woods near Tesaque, New Mexico.

WHAT IS PTSD?

PTSD stands for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and it occurs in persons who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, serious accident, terrorist act, war/combat, rape, personal assault, or experienced ongoing forms of abuse like emotional abuse, spiritual abuse, bullying from peers or family, or neglect from caregivers. Folks with PTSD continue to have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to the traumatic event that lasts long after its occurrence. They may relive their event though flashbacks or nightmares and may feel sadness, fear, or anger and may feel detached or estranged from other people. Often they avoid situations or people that remind them of the traumatic event and may have strong negative reactions to something ordinary such as a loud noise or an accidental touch.

WHAT DOES TRAUMA DO TO US?

Whether it is the result of an acute form of PTSD (something recent like a car accident or sexual assault) or a chronic form of PTSD like complex trauma (including a past history of ongoing child abuse or bullying or neglect or something else that’s life-threatening for your nervous system), unprocessed trauma lingers in the nervous system, creating bad press about yourself. Traumatic memories carry past pain: those memories hold the emotions, body sensations, and beliefs that were experienced at the time of the trauma. This means the trauma is re-experienced when the old pain is triggered by internal or external events.

WHAT HELPS TREAT PTSD?

Using the latest in neuroscience, I can help you heal from PTSD using EMDR, a type of therapy that has been proven to help treat PTSD, complex PTSD, and a whole variety of other mental health concerns. Please see more about my EMDR practice here. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy + mindfulness strategies to provide you with evidenced-based tools to help relieve your distress now so you can feel good again. I also incorporate IFS parts work and EMDR to help get to the roots of your pain and release buried emotions in a relaxed and gentle exploration of past trauma.

WHAT PRACTICES CAN HELP SOOTHE PTSD?

There are so many things you can do to help soothe PTSD symptoms, and with intentional practice, you can rewire your brain for peace. Sign up for my monthly newsletter and receive a beautiful self-care gift of science-based approaches I have created to will help you to be kind to yourself. You can sign up for my monthly newsletter here. 

Are you ready to start your healing journey? Let’s connect!

Please reach out to me for counseling by calling or texting my practice number which is (817) 642 – 7305, or send me an email at jenn at theholyabsurd dot com (to prevent spam bots). I look forward to hearing from you!

Photo: Hiking in the woods near Tesaque, New Mexico, Jenn Zatopek.

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