5 Signs You May Have PTSD (And How to Get Help in the Lee's Summit Area)
Have you ever felt like you're stuck in a never-ending cycle of fear, anxiety, and trauma flashbacks? Maybe you've been diagnosed with PTSD. Or, maybe you're not quite sure what's going on, but you know something's not right. Maybe you've been to standard once-a-week therapy and feel like it barely helped. Or, you've been avoiding facing the trauma altogether just hoping you'll feel like yourself again soon. But, it feels like you're stuck reliving what happened to you over and over again. You're exhausted and sick of living this way. You just want to move on.
You're not alone. Many people in the Kansas City area struggle with the effects of trauma, and it can be tough to know where to turn for help.
Many people who experience a traumatic event can recover with time. But, for others, PTSD can persist. And when it does, it can have a profound impact on their daily lives. If you think you or a loved one may be experiencing PTSD, it's essential to seek help as soon as possible. In this article, we will discuss five common signs of PTSD. Then, we'll talk about how to get help in the Lee's Summit Area.
Reliving Traumatic Events
One of the primary signs of PTSD is experiencing vivid and distressing memories of the traumatic event. These traumatic memories can take the form of flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts. The point is that your brain is trying to make sense of the trauma by turning it over in your brain. Unfortunately, these can make it very challenging to focus on day-to-day tasks. Nobody wants to relive the worst moments of their life over and over again. But that's essentially what can happen with PTSD. So, if you find yourself reliving the traumatic event or avoiding triggers associated with the event, it could be a sign of PTSD.
Hyperarousal
Hyperarousal is another very common symptom of PTSD. Hyperarousal is a common reaction to trauma and a hallmark symptom of PTSD. It's like a car with the gas pedal stuck down, constantly revving and making it hard to slow down or stop. You may feel constantly on edge like you're bracing for something bad to happen. Sleep can be difficult, and you may be easily startled or on guard all the time. But it's important to remember that these symptoms are a normal response to abnormal circumstances. You're not alone in feeling this way, and there are many effective treatments available that can help you manage hyperarousal and regain a sense of control over your life.
Negative Changes in Mood
If you find yourself feeling down, hopeless, or detached from others, it could be a sign of PTSD. People with PTSD often report feeling emotionally numb. It's as if you're unable to experience pleasure or happiness. You may have fleeting joy, but it's not as fulfilling or all-encompassing joy that you want to have. It's also super common to have difficulty connecting with others if you're living with PTSD. Additionally, shame is an emotion I’ve often seen clients experience after trauma in a really intense way.
All this can lead to depression, anxiety, and social isolation, making it essential to seek help as soon as possible.
Negative Thoughts
Negative cognitions and self-talk are also common symptoms of PTSD that can significantly impact your daily life. You may find yourself constantly blaming yourself or feeling guilty, even for things that weren't your fault. You may feel like you're a burden on others, or that you don't deserve to be happy or successful. These thoughts can be very distressing and may make it difficult to form close relationships or feel good about yourself. It's important to remember that these negative thoughts are a symptom of your trauma and not a reflection of who you are as a person. In PTSD treatment, directly targeting these negative cognitions and self-talk is crucial. Through techniques like cognitive restructuring, you can learn to challenge and replace these negative thoughts with more realistic, positive ones. With time and practice, you can begin to regain your self-confidence and sense of self-worth.
Avoidance Behaviors
If you are avoiding places, people, or activities that remind you of the traumatic event, it could be a sign of PTSD. Avoidance behaviors can interfere with daily life, making it difficult to maintain relationships or complete essential tasks.
Unfortunately, avoidance actually acts to maintain PTSD. So, if you find yourself changing your routine or avoiding specific situations, it's essential to seek help.
Physical Symptoms
People with PTSD often experience physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, or chest pain. These symptoms can be difficult to diagnose, as they are often associated with other medical conditions. If you are experiencing unexplained physical symptoms, it's important to seek medical attention to rule out any underlying conditions.
You Don't Have to Live with PTSD
If you think you or a loved one may be experiencing PTSD, it's important to seek help as soon as possible. It may feel like you just have to live with the PTSD. Or you may want to ignore the trauma symptoms altogether assuming they'll go away or fade.
But trauma has a way of showing back up when it's least convenient if left untreated. And ignoring it can actually make it harder to deal with later.
You don't have to live with feeling overwhelmed, because we have several types of PTSD treatment that we know work really, really well. I've personally worked with many people who have had terrible, debilitating PTSD. Yet, when we provided effective, evidence-based types of treatment they go much better.
How to Get Help for PTSD in the Lee's Summit Area
Aspire Counseling in Lee's Summit offers a one-week trauma therapy intensive based on Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). CPT is a type of therapy that helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns related to the traumatic event. The intensive includes two 60-minute counseling sessions per day for five days. We provide some additional support such as loaning you a MUSE meditation headband for the week. You also get access to a meditation video every day and learn a coping skill each day.
Generally, people find incredible relief in just a week of treatment and can then continue with weekly therapy. However, some clients prefer to participate in a second week of intense treatment. For example, nightmares can sometimes persist after the first week. So, we do a second week of intensive treatment more directly targeting the nightmares.
This intensive PTSD treatment program is an excellent option for people who are looking for things to get better quickly and are tired of living with PTSD.
The Aspire Counseling Trauma Intensive Can Help You Move Forward
PTSD can be a debilitating condition that can interfere with daily life. If you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms of PTSD, it can be miserable to live with on a day-to-day basis. But this CAN be treated. And, our trauma therapists believe you deserve to feel better faster than standard once-a-week trauma therapy is able to heal. So, Aspire Counseling in Lee's Summit (also with a Columbia, MO location) offers a one-week trauma therapy intensive based on Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) that has been shown to be effective in treating PTSD. Don't let PTSD control your life – reach out for help today.
Learn more about our skilled team of therapists here.
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Other Trauma Services Offered at Aspire Counseling
In addition to our Trauma Therapy Intensive, Aspire Counseling offers many other therapy services related directly to overcoming trauma. These services include the following:
We understand that addressing trauma often requires a personalized approach, and one common question individuals have is “Is therapy two times a week too much?” or, “Can I do therapy more than once a week?”. At Aspire Counseling, we recognize that for some, the need for relief is urgent. That’s why we offer a one-week trauma intensive program designed to provide intensive support and healing in a shorter timeframe. Additionally, for those wanting more frequent therapy sessions to feel relief quicker, we can accommodate sessions twice a week to help clients find relief sooner. Our flexible scheduling options ensure that individuals can receive the level of support that best suits their needs.
