PTSD Counseling Services

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a severe psychological condition that is triggered by an extremely distressing or terrifying event. The trauma caused by being involved in that situation can be so intense that it can make it difficult for you to resume your daily life. PTSD is most commonly known to occur in connection to war veterans, but it can happen to anyone who has gone through terrifying circumstances.

A natural disaster, terrorist attack, a horrible accident, rape, or any other form of violent experience can cause Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) later on.

PTSD Counseling Services in Beverly Hills and Laguna Beach, CA

While it is normal to feel shocked by a traumatic event for hours and even days. But if the shock stays longer than that, even after the traumatic event has ended, then you might have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). We are always here to help and provide PTSD Counseling Services

Unlike normal shock that fades away with time, PTSD can have lasting impacts. You find it challenging to get that experience out of your head and may encounter uncontrollable thoughts, nightmares, unpleasant emotions, or even have panic attacks.

Let’s look at some common symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Symptoms may vary from person to person, but usually, symptoms of PTSD fall into four major categories:

1. Intrusive Thoughts: You have unwanted, repeated memories of the experience. You experience flashbacks or distressing dreams. You may often find it difficult to sleep at night because of these thoughts. Your flashbacks may be so vivid that it feels like you’re reliving the experience before your eyes.
2. Avoiding Reminders: You try to avoid anything that reminds you of the experience. This includes people, places, objects, or any form of activity that makes you think of that traumatic event. Some people may try to resist what happened or ignore talking about it. A person may experience detachment from the family or friends and a loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed.
3. Increased Emotional Problems: Having difficulty controlling your emotions and ongoing negative or distortive beliefs about yourself or others. “No one can be trusted,” “I am not normal” etc.
4. Arousal problems: Feeling on edge most of the time despite being in a safe environment. Irritability, outbursts of anger and sadness, Physical symptoms such as high blood pressure, increased heart rate, feeling jumpy, and having rapid breathing.

It is important to note that these symptoms might appear for a few days, even weeks after you’ve suffered from the traumatic event. After going through a shocking event, it is normal for us to feel fear, anxiety, and depression for some time. Short term shock is normal and it goes away on its own.

For it to be PTSD, these symptoms will not go away on their own and continue for long after the event has ended, such as for more than three weeks or multiple months.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as well as Additional Types of Psychotherapy Treatment Approaches for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Beverly Hills and Laguna Beach, CA

PTSD can be a challenging condition, but fortunately, there are many effective approaches, especially PTSD Counseling services or therapy  can help treat this condition.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A variety of therapies are used for treating PTSD, among those CBT is perhaps the common and highly effective technique. It shows improvements in both the short-term and long-term.

CBT is also commonly known as speech therapy, it’s main focus is to understand the connection between how our different thinking patterns, core beliefs and thoughts affect our behavior. In cases of PTSD, the damage is mostly psychological than physical. So, this method concentrates more on treating the emotional trauma and thinking that has been disturbed due to it.

How does CBT work?

As the name applies, CBT is more focused on identifying, modifying, and restructuring your dangerous thought patterns. It essentially teaches you how you can think better and manage your negative thoughts by tested and proven rational methods. Cognitive Processing Therapy CPT is a sub-group of CBT that focuses more on dealing with the emotions after the trauma and how you can effectively perceive them.

CBT changes how you look at not only yourself but in the world after the traumatic experience. With time and practice, you learn to adapt by becoming aware of your distorted beliefs and emotions. This change in thinking automatically changes you and significantly reduces your stress.

Components of CBT

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is a broad group of therapies, it contains many distinguished approaches for PTSD such as:

Exposure Therapy: In this form of CBT, the victims are made to confront their traumatic memories. The purpose behind this is to make people see their fears for their actual authenticity and then dominate them. It helps you rationalize the fact that the experience has passed and now there is no real threat to worry about. When people see their experiences in a logical manner, they learn to intellectualize and overcome their fears.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy is a similar form of therapy in which you continually face your trauma without avoidance. Avoidance is good for the short-term, but it’s not a solution. You learn how to control your thinking by facing your fears for long enough that you become comfortable with it.

Cognitive Restructuring helps you work towards processing your memories and seeing your trauma in a more rational manner. It could be that your memories related to the event are completely exaggerated and you might have developed additional fears that were never there in the first place. Cognitive restructuring allows you to sort out such false beliefs for improved thinking.

Stress inoculation training (SIT)

Typically, another shape of stress-reducing method that can be used to instantly handle stress at whatever point you are feeling it. It instructs you the procedures that can help you manage the pressure related to PTSD. It gives you an assortment of instruments such as profound breathing from your stomach, muscle relaxation, learning positive self-talk and self-observation, role-playing, and changing thinking practices. It is proven to work for PTSD victims and can indeed be utilized with other shapes of CBT for the greatest impact.

Conclusion for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment

PTSD is a genuine concern and can have devastating impacts on our quality of life. While it might be difficult, identifying it and using different approaches to treat it can help you deal with its symptoms in a short period. Psychotherapy has shown immense benefits alongside medications. Getting in touch with your therapist can prove to be the one big step you take towards improving your shock and living a better life.

Receiving Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Counseling Services at Reconnect Relationship™ Therapy, in Beverly Hills & Laguna Beach, CA

Reconnect Relationship’s network includes specialist therapists and psychiatry referrals offering Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) counseling in Beverly Hills and Laguna Beach, CA.

Call us for a chat to see how we can assist you with improving your Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) management or someone you know who needs some help and support, or complete our Drop Us A Line form to make an appointment.