PTSD

banner image

Have you experienced one or more traumatic events?

Are you suffering from lingering fear and anxiety? Do you feel like you no longer have any control over how you think, feel, and behave?

Posttraumatic stress disorder - also known as PTSD - is a mental health challenge that may occur in individuals who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a terrorist act, an act of war, a serious accident, rape, or any other violent personal assault.

It is believed that PTSD affects nearly four percent of the U.S. adult population. While it is usually linked with veterans who’ve experienced combat, PTSD occurs in all people regardless of age, race, nationality, or culture. In fact, women are twice as likely to experience PTSD than men.

 What are the Symptoms of PTSD?

People with PTSD often experience intense thoughts and feelings related to their traumatic experiences. These can last for a long time after the initial event. Many people with PTSD also relive the event through flashbacks and nightmares.

People with PTSD often feel intense emotions such as fear, anger, sadness, and detachment from friends, family, and community members. They often avoid people and situations that remind them of the traumatic event. Ordinary sounds or incidents such as a door banging or accidental touch in a crowd may cause a strong and uncontrollable reaction.

How Can Treatment Help?

There are a variety of treatments that can be used to treat PTSD. James draws from several theoretical orientations including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, and Brainspotting. Brainspotting is the primary treatment of choice for advanced resolution of PTSD.

Brainspotting can be particularly effective for individuals with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) because it allows them to access and process traumatic memories in a safe and controlled environment. Here’s how it helps:

  1. Accessing Deeper Brain Levels: Brainspotting targets the subcortical brain, which is responsible for emotions and survival instincts. This allows individuals to access deeply stored memories and emotions associated with trauma.

  2. Focused Attention: By focusing on a specific eye position, individuals can concentrate on the sensations and emotions that arise, facilitating a deeper processing of traumatic experiences.

  3. Regulation of the Nervous System: The technique helps in regulating the autonomic nervous system, which can be dysregulated in PTSD. This regulation can reduce symptoms like hypervigilance, anxiety, and panic.

  4. Safe Processing: Brainspotting provides a safe space for individuals to explore and process traumatic memories without becoming overwhelmed. The therapist guides the process, ensuring that the individual remains grounded.

  5. Release of Emotional Pain: As individuals process their trauma, they often experience a release of emotional pain and distress, leading to relief from PTSD symptoms.

Overall, Brainspotting is a gentle yet powerful approach that can help individuals with PTSD find relief and healing from their traumatic experiences.

If you or a loved one suffer from PTSD and would like to explore treatment options, please reach out to me. I have personally seen amazing transformation through therapy and want to offer the help you need to enjoy life again. My direct number is (252) 414-0534.