What is PTSD, and How Fractured Light Counseling Can Help
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PostTraumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is not a random spontaneous thing. This dosorder has roots that can be traced back to a single incident, or series of events that leave us feeling like we are powerless, alone and terrifed. When someone is in the midst of this disorder and experiencing their particular symptoms it feels like they are in a storm that won’t end.
What Is PTSD?
Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental health condition that is formed when a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic even in their lives. Although it is most associated with combat situations or violence, thier are other sources that aren’t talked about as much in the media. PTSD can originate from the loss sof a loved one, vehicle accident, medical trauma, child abuse, abuse in a relationship or even a natural disaster. Everyone’s trauma is valid and everyone responds to that trauma in a different way.
How PTSD is different than “getting stressed”, is that our nervous system gets stuck in “flight mode”. Our brains fire the stress responses long after the danger is gone rather that processing the trauma and getting us back to our regulated selves. Thus becoming chronic PTSD symptomology.
PTSD and the Science Behind it
To understand PTSD we have to look to our brains and what they do. When we are in danger, the amygdala lights up. This is the part of the brain that tells our body “it’s go time.”. Your body gets flooded with stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline; and speeds up your heart beat, tenses your muscles.
In a healthy system the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus step in and tell your body that you are safe when the danger passes by regulating your emotions, reason and store the experience in your memories. People with PTSD have amygdalas that over react and constantly sound the alarm.
In this, the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex are not able to do their jobs; which in turn makes it more difficult for your brain to feel safe, or let go of the fear when the danger goes away. This doesn’t mean that something is wrong with you. Your brain is just making an attempt to protect you in a world that it thinks is trying to harm you.
What Are the Symptoms of PTSD?
PTSD can look similar in many people, here are some of the most common symptoms:
Hyperarousal Symptoms:
Being easily startled or “on edge”
Trouble sleeping
Angry outbursts or irritability
Constant scanning of the environment for threats (hypervigilance)
Mood & Cognitive Symptoms:
Feelings of hopelessness or emotionally numb
Negative beliefs about yourself and/or the world
Memory problems, especially surrounding the traumatic event
Avoidance Symptoms:
Avoiding places, people, or conversations that remind you of the trauma
Withdrawing from relationships or responsibilities
Intrusive Symptoms:
Intrusive thoughts that seem to come out of nowhere
Flashbacks that feel real
Nightmares or vivid dreams
If this sounds like you or someone you know, it’s time to seek support. Survival mode does not have to be your new normal.
Complex PTSD (C-PTSD): When Trauma Is Ongoing
There’s another form of PTSD called Complex PTSD, or C-PTSD. C-PTSD happens when trauma is repeated or someone has long term exposure to the trauma. Ofetn this is the result of childhood abuse or neglect but can also happen later in life as well in places like nursing homes. People with C-PTSD might also experience:
Difficulty trusting others
A fractured sense of self
Chronic emotional dysregulation
Deep feelings of shame or guilt
C-PTSD can be especially hard to spot because it often looks like depression, anxiety, or even a personality disorder.
When Should You Seek Help?
Many people delay treatment because they think they can work through it on their own or that it “just takes time”, but trauma doesn’t work on a schedule. You should reach out for support if:
You’re avoiding situations or people to feel safe
You feel emotionally detached or numb
You experience panic, fear, or intrusive thoughts regularly
You’re struggling with depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts
You’ve tried other treatments and they haven’t worked
PTSD is a mental health condition, not a weakness, and it responds well to the right care.
You’re Not Alone: Take Back Your Life!
PTSD can feel like a prison, as if you’re trapped in a past that keeps replaying no matter how far you try to run. You are not alone, you are not broken and you are not stuck there. With the right care, you can heal, and your life can feel like yours again. If you’ve been struggling with nightmares, panic attacks, hypervigilance, or just the constant feeling that something is wrong, reach out, I can help.