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1. MORE THAN HALF OF AMERICANS WILL GO THROUGH A TRAUMATIC EVENT AT LEAST ONCE IN THEIR LIVES.
2. PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPIERENCED PREVIOUS TRAUMATIC EVENTS RUN A HIGHER RISK OF DEVELOPING PTSD.
3. LBGT PEOPLE EXPERIENCE VIOLENCE AND PTSD AT HIGHER RATES THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION.
4. WOMEN ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO DEVELOP PTSD, EXPERIENCE A LONGER DURIATION OF POST TRAUMATIC SYMPTOMS AND DISPLAY MORE SENSITIVITY TO STIMULI THAT REMINDS THEM OF THE TRAUMA.
5. MANY SURVIVORS CURRENTLY LIVING WITH PTSD EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS THAT ARE BOTH CHRONIC AND SERVER.
TRAUMA CAN BE CAUSED BY SURVIVING EVENTS SUCH AS
TRAUMA CAN ALSO BE CASUED BY SOME COMMONLY OVERLOOKED LIFE EVENTS, SUCH AS:
YOU’RE MORE LIKELY TO BE TRAUMATIZED BY AN EVENT IF YOU’VE BEEN TRAUMATIZED BEFORE, SUCH AS DURING CHILDHOOD. CHILDHOOD TRAUMA CAN BE CAUSED BY:
TRAUMA CAN ALSO BE THE RESULT OF ONGOING, SEVERE STRESS, SUCH AS LIVING IN A CRIME-RIDDEN NEIGHBORHOOD, BATTLING A LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESS OR EXPERIENCING TRAUMATIC EVENTS THAT OCCUR REPEATEDLY SUCH AS BULLYING, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR CHILDHOOD NEGLECT
PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF TRAUMA INCLUDE:
TRAUMA AND PTSD ARE BOTH TREATABLE AND MANAGEABLE. IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH TRAUMA/PTSD, THERE IS HELP AVAILABLE AND THERE IS HOPE FOR RECOVERY.
TIPS FOR RECOVERING FROM TRAUMA INCLUDE:
BEING PHYSICALLY ACTIVE – EXERCISE FOR 30 MINUTES A DAY; TRY TO USE RHYTHMIC EXERCISES LIKE WALKING OR RUNNING; AND BE MINDFUL AND FOCUS ON HOW YOUR BODY IS MOVING.
DON’T ISOLATE – ASK FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS OR COUNSELOR FOR SUPPORT; PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES; OR JOIN A SUPPORT GRUP
SELF-REGULATE – USE MINDFUL BREATHING TECHNIQUES OR OTHER STRES-RELIEF/GROUNDING TECHNIQUES SUCH AS USING SENSORY INPUT. SENSORY INPUT MEANS NOTICING DIFFERENT SIGHTS, SMELLS OR TASTES TO FEEL CALM.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF – BE SURE TO GET ENOUGH SLEEP, AVOID ALCOHOL AND DRUGS, EAT A WELL-BALANCED DIET AND TRY TO REDUCE STRESS.
THERAPY FOR TRAUMA/PTSD
MORE ABOUT EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION AND REPROCESSING
ONE TREATMENT FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA IS CALLED EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION AND REPROCESSING (EMDR). EMDR IS PSYCHOTHERAPY THAT ENABLES PEOPLE TO HEAL FROM THE SYMPTOMS AND EMOTIONAL DISTRESS THAT ARE THE RESULTS OF DISTURBING LIFE EXPERIENCES. EMDR THERAPY DOES NOT REQUIRE TALKING IN DETAIL ABOUT THE DISTRESSING ISSUE OR COMPLETING HOMEWORK BETWEEN SESSIONS. EMDR THERAPY, RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON CHANGING THE EMOTIONS, THOUGHTS, OR BEHAVIORS RESULTING FROM DISTRESSING ISSUE, ALLOWS THE BRAIN TO RESOLVE UNPROCESSED MEMORIES AND RESUME ITS NATURAL HEALING PROCESS.
HOW EMDR WORKS
EMDR USES A PATIENT’S OWN RAPID, RHYTHMIC EYE MOMVEMNTS. YOUR THERAPIST WILL MOVE THEIR FINGERS BACK AND FOURTH IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE AND ASK YOU TO FOLLOW THESE HAND MOTIONS WITH YOUR EYES. AT THE SAME TIME, EMDR TERAPIST WILL HAVE YOU RECALL A DISTURBING EVENT. THIS WILL INCLUDE THE EMOTIONS AND BODY SENSATIONS THAT GO ALONG WITH IT. THE THERAPIST WILL THEN BUIDE YOU TO SHIFT YOUR THOUGHTS TO MORE PLEASANT ONES.