Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

It just won’t go away.

Nightmares. Flashbacks. Hallucinations.

Anytime. Anywhere. Without warning.

You’ve given up on going out with family or friends. Even a simple shopping trip is risky – something might set off a trigger – and you don’t want to take that chance.

You’re always on edge – angry, irritable, jumpy, and exhausted. You never know when you’re going to have an outburst of anger or tears. You want to sleep, but you either can’t because your mind is racing or don’t dare because you don’t want to relive what happened in your dreams.

You don’t know how to feel – did you have something to do with what happened? Was it your fault? Could you have stopped it somehow? Why won’t it stop?

You want to move on, but you can’t. You’re stuck in this living hell. Stuck with PTSD.

What’s happening?

PTSD, a trauma and stress-related disorder, may develop after exposure to an event or ordeal in which death or severe physical harm occurred or was threatened.

You feel increasingly isolated and alone even when you are surrounded by people you love. No one understands what you are experiencing.

Often accompanied by depression, substance abuse, and anxiety, PTSD is frequently reported in veterans of war; however, women are actually more likely than men to develop it. The most common causes of PTSD in women are sexual and physical abuse.

How can you make it stop?

The main treatment for PTSD is psychotherapy combined with medication.

Together, we’ll use psychotherapy to teach you how the disorder works and give you hope. Teaching you ways of relaxing and grounding yourself in the present is an integral part of treatment.

Together, we’ll examine and resolve strong feelings such as shame, anger, or guilt that so often accompany trauma. Ultimately, exposure to the event in your imagination will allow you to re-experience the event in a safe, controlled environment. While initially difficult, re-experiencing can lead to changes in beliefs and, eventually, reduced emotional reactivity to the event.

Close that file – for good.

Our goal is to help you file away the traumatic memory just like other unpleasant memories that you’ve experienced – without allowing it to call the shots and control your life any longer.

Following successful treatment, your symptoms will improve, and you will feel more confident in your ability to cope with the day-to-day challenges of life.

Reach out today to begin your journey toward a future where you can feel free to be yourself – to go where you want and do what you want with confidence.

Call me at (214) 927-8456 to schedule a free 20-minute phone consultation.