Understanding Trauma: 4 Coping Strategies
Posttraumatic stress disorder, (PTSD), is a real illness. With symptoms that last more than one month, PTSD has various forms depending on the time of onset to the duration of the stress symptoms. If acute, the symptoms can last between 1 and 3 months. If chronic, symptoms last more than 3 months. With delayed onset, symptoms develop more than 6 months after the traumatic event. PTSD can cause problems in the following ways:
Flashbacks, or feeling like the event is happening again
Trouble sleeping or nightmares
Feeling alone
Angry outbursts
Feeling worried, guilty, or even sad
Psychological trauma can come from adverse life experiences in a person’s unique experience of an incident, a series of incidents, or a set of enduring conditions in which the individual’s ability to integrate his or her emotional experiences becomes overwhelmed. It can be the following:
Traumatic events. Your worst moments related to the events of trauma, accidents, loss and grieving
Humiliation trauma. Childhood, adolescence or even adults can experience words that might have been said, which made one feel uncomfortable, this can produce humiliation trauma
Betrayal trauma. A negative event represents a betrayal of trust and will influence the way those events are processed and remembered. A violation of confidence, or well-being, physically or emotionally. Sexual abuse perpetrated by a caregiver is an example of betrayal trauma.
Coping strategies for you or a loved one:
Self-care-as the old saying goes, if you are on a flight the attendant always says, “put on your mask before you help someone else.” It is important not to neglect yourself.
Seek Support-make sure you are reaching out to someone. A therapist, trusted friend, pastor or family member. It is essential to healing to have a support network that you can identify with, especially when the stress becomes unmanageable.
Separate yourself from your diagnosis-you are more than a diagnosis. Giving yourself grace and understanding that this is an illness and does not define you as a person.
Remember to make time in your life to engage in joyful events- Random trips, finding a new hobby, making a list of things you would like to do.
During this difficult time of social isolation, loss of employment, or life stressors, PTSD can become exacerbated by these stressors. Use of mindfulness training, coping strategies can decrease your stress to a manageable level. Additional resources are available, and therapy is always an option to help you become the person you know you can be.
Roubicek & Thacker Counseling is Fresno’s premier provider of individual, couples, family, and group therapy. We offer in-person and online remote therapy sessions. Contact us today to change the way you feel.