Information on this page may be triggering to some people. If you are having suicidal thoughts, please contact the National Suicide Hotline or contact 911 if you are in immediate danger.

If you have experienced trauma or PTSD in your life after a triggering experience, Ogden Psychological Services can help by providing trauma counseling to help you find healthy coping mechanisms and learn how to manage your emotions so that you can build a healthier, happier life. 

What is Trauma?

Trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience that can have lasting negative effects on a person’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being. It can cause a long-lasting psychological, emotional response in an individual, making it hard for them to cope and function afterwards. They may experience shock and denial, struggle to move on with their lives, and feel like the world is no longer a safe, just, and predictable place. 

Many people experience trauma at some point in their lives. Some of the most common traumatic events include:

• Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
• The death of a loved one, especially if unexpected
• Physical or sexual assault
• Car or workplace accidents
• Abandonment
• Life-threatening event
• Bullying or domestic violence
• Witnessing a traumatic event, such as a crime, a death, or an accident
• Natural disasters

Trauma can be an isolated, one-time event or a repeated, ongoing occurrence. Everyone processes trauma differently, and what is traumatic to someone may not be to another. It can also range from mildly upsetting to severely damaging. 

Signs and Symptoms of Trauma

Everyone reacts to traumatic events differently, but most people experience these common signs and symptoms: 

Physical Symptoms

• Trouble sleeping and fatigue
• Changes in appetite
• Physical pain 
• Headaches 
• Rapid heart rate and sweating 
• Nausea 

Behavioral Symptoms

• Social withdrawal 
• Substance abuse 
• Feeling isolated 
• Hypervigilance
• Edginess
• Difficulty with maintaining relationships

Emotional Symptoms

• Shock
• Denial
• Anger
• Feeling unsafe
• Guilt
• Shame
• Flashbacks
• Hopelessness
• Intrusive thoughts and memories

What Is PTSD?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. It can be extremely debilitating and have a serious impact on your life. For some people, PTSD symptoms follow immediately after a traumatic event, while for others, it may take months or years to manifest. 

It’s normal to have nightmares and feel anxious after experiencing something traumatic. However, if you don’t start to feel better within a few weeks or a month, you may have developed PTSD. This mental condition can cause serious issues for months or years afterwards.

Anyone can develop PTSD; however, those who have served in the military, been sexually assaulted or hurt during a traumatic event, or experienced a long-lasting trauma may be more at risk. 

Signs and Symptoms of PTSD

Some people can recover from PTSD within a few months, but for some people, it can develop into a chronic issue. Symptoms can vary in intensity and may worsen when an individual is stressed or reminded of what happened, such as how fireworks remind combat veterans of gunfire. 

There are four types of PTSD symptoms: intrusive memories, avoidance, negative change in thinking and mood, and changes in physical and emotional reactions. To be diagnosed with PTSD, an individual needs to experience the following symptoms for at least a month:

Intrusive Memories

• Flashbacks 
• Nightmares 
• Recurrent, unwanted memories about the event
• Several emotional or physical reactions to things that remind you of the event

Avoidance

• Avoiding thoughts and feelings related to the traumatic event
• Avoiding places, people, or activities that remind you of the traumatic event

Negative Changes in Thinking and Mood

• Trouble remembering aspects of the traumatic event
• Emotional numbness
• Trouble experiencing positive emotions
• Negative thoughts about yourself, others, and/or the world
• Hopelessness
• Detachment or feeling of isolation
• Trouble maintaining relationships
• Losing interest in previously enjoyable activities
• Distorted feelings of guilt and/or blame

Changes in Physical and Emotional Reactions

• Being easily startled
• Angry outbursts
• Aggressive behavior
• Irritability
• Difficulty sleeping
• Being perpetually on guard
• Self-destructive behaviors
• Difficulty concentrating

Children who experience PTSD may also have nightmares, wet the bed, be unable to speak, cling to a parent or adult, and re-enact the traumatic event or parts of it while playing. 

Trauma vs. PTSD

Many symptoms of trauma are also symptoms of PTSD. However, just because you experience trauma doesn’t mean you will develop PTSD. It can develop following a traumatic event, but it typically has more severe, intense symptoms than your body’s natural response to trauma. 

What Does Trauma And PTSD Treatment Look Like?

Here at Ogden Psychological Services, we offer a few different therapies to help you manage your trauma and PTSD and get back to a better quality of life: 

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that helps individuals recognize and challenge unhelpful beliefs, such as self-blame or negative views of the world, and upsetting thoughts that may have developed after the trauma. 

During these sessions, you will: 

• Learn about PTSD and the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. 
• Identify and challenge thoughts that keep you trapped in PTSD symptoms.
• Complete writing assignments and discussions to help reframe harmful beliefs. 
• Examine whether the facts support or don’t support your thoughts and decide whether you want to take a new perspective.

Prolonged Exposure (PE)

Prolonged Exposure (PE) is a talk therapy that focuses on gradually confronting trauma-related memories, situations, and feelings that have been avoided. Like CPT, it is a type of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). 

With this therapy, you will:

• Revisit the traumatic memory through imaginal exposure to process the trauma and reduce its emotional impact.
• Engage in in vivo exposure by confronting safe but avoided places or activities.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy, or talk therapy, that helps the brain process traumatic memories, thoughts, and feelings using bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements or tapping. 

During these sessions, you will:

• Be guided to recall distressing memories while performing specific eye movements or other rhythmic stimulation. 
• Use this therapy to “unlock” memories and allow the brain to reprocess them in a healthier way. 
• Reduce the emotional charge of traumatic memories.

Begin Your Healing Journey

If you’ve experienced a traumatic event, Ogden Psychological Services can help you process what happened, form healthy coping mechanisms, and manage your symptoms. Contact us today for more information or to set up an appointment for trauma counseling.