It’s not your fault, and you’re not alone
I’m hiding and running, feeling haunted by my past. No one really understands what it’s like, and I don’t want to burden them with it anymore, anyway. I need a place where I can talk about what’s really happening–all the weird trauma symptoms that no one really talks about. I need to share my story and not be afraid of being judged.
Trauma
Traumatic experiences and the symptoms that arise from them often feel like they follow you. You’ll think you’ve dealt with it, but the symptoms keep coming up. Sort of like peeling an onion, you keep finding more underneath.
Your symptoms may be panic attacks in the bathroom at work, or overwhelming sadness that you can’t get to lift. Perhaps you’re freezing up, losing the ability to speak up in your relationships, voicing your needs. Maybe you even get nightmares or flashbacks, making it feel like you’re back in the traumatic memory.
Coping with this could mean you’ve started to do things that aren’t that healthy to help you get by–drinking too much or using drugs, isolating yourself, cutting or additional self-harm, or other behaviors that get you through the day. There is no shame in doing what you had to do to survive.
Is there a way to get past this?
The good news is that there is hope and there is help. We know so much more about trauma treatment now than in even the recent past, meaning that you can get better results and faster relief from your symptoms.
What is trauma therapy like?
First, we will work together to help you stabilize physically, emotionally, and mentally, moving toward growth and wellness. We can address any unhealthy coping behaviors, find ways to replace them with choices that work better for your long-term wellbeing, and help you develop your support network.
After building a solid foundation, we can go into the traumatic experiences themselves. We will release the pain, tension, shame, and anger (among other things) which you may be holding. This will look different for each person, and there are a variety of tools we can use, based on what works best for your unique needs.
To expand from there, you can attend a support group or workshop with other survivors, sharing your story with people who really get what you’re going through. You may also choose to seek support for relationships with your partner, or family members, helping them to understand your symptoms and learn to be in relationship with you more effectively.
You are not alone.
What you’re going through isn’t your fault, and you’re not alone. We’re here when you decide you’re ready to make the call–to take back ownership of your life narrative, and to let the past be behind you.
Start by scheduling a free consultation with us today.