Healing After Trauma: Understanding PTSD and Finding Support
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Understanding Trauma and PTSD
Traumatic events can happen to anyone at any time. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a car accident, abuse, violence, or a natural disaster, trauma can leave lasting emotional effects. Those affected may feel frightened, distressed, anxious, guilty, helpless, or disconnected. For some, the emotional aftermath can be profound and long-lasting, developing into Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), PTSD develops in some people who have experienced or witnessed a shocking, scary, or dangerous event. Not everyone exposed to trauma develops PTSD, but statistics from the Sidran Institute reveal that about 70% of adults in the U.S. experience a traumatic event, and up to 20% of those may develop PTSD.
What is Trauma?
Trauma is more than just a distressing event. It’s a deeply emotional experience that can overwhelm your ability to process and recover. Trauma affects people differently, what one person recovers from quickly, another may struggle with for years. For some, symptoms fade with time and support. For others, trauma can disrupt daily life for months or years.
Trauma can affect the nervous system, leaving it “stuck” in a state of constant alertness or shutting down entirely. This means you might feel anxious, hypervigilant, or disconnected long after the danger has passed.
Recognizing PTSD Symptoms
PTSD symptoms may appear immediately after trauma, or they may develop later, weeks, months, or even years afterward. Symptoms often include:
- Intrusive memories: Flashbacks or nightmares triggered by reminders of the trauma.
- Avoidance: Avoiding people, places, or activities that trigger memories of the trauma.
- Negative changes in thinking and mood: Feelings of hopelessness, guilt, or emotional numbness.
- Changes in physical and emotional reactions: Irritability, anger, difficulty sleeping, trouble concentrating, or being easily startled.
Children and adolescents may show PTSD differently, including regression, clinginess, disruptive behavior, or trouble in school and social settings.
Why Professional Help Matters
Living with PTSD can be overwhelming and isolating, affecting relationships, work, school, and overall well-being. But recovery is possible. Trauma-focused therapy, including approaches such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), and somatic therapy, has been shown to significantly help individuals heal (APA – Posttraumatic Stress Disorder).
We are able to help individuals with Aetna, Aetna State Healthplan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, Tricare, and many of the Medicaid policies to include Alliance, Carolina Complete Health, Wellcare, Healthy Blue, and United Healthcare insurance.
At Carolina Counseling Services, Pittsboro, NC, our licensed, independent trauma therapists provide compassionate, individualized care. We work with you to address the root causes of trauma and equip you with healthy coping strategies so you can reclaim your life.
Call today to schedule your first appointment. Healing is possible, and help is available.
Ebone L. Rocker, LCMHCS, is one of the Owners and Vice Presidents of Carolina Counseling Services. She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor in the State of North Carolina.