Do you suffer from flashbacks, intrusive thoughts or nightmares?
Do you avoid particular places? Continually feel numb?
Worry that you might have depression?
Are you easily startled? Have difficulty sleeping? Are you constantly angry and tense?
Did you experience a trauma?
Often people experience a significant stressor in their lives and don’t identify it as traumatic. It may take weeks, months or even years before an individual realizes that they have PTSD or symptoms of PTSD. Statistically women are more likely than men to develop PTSD. Children and teens can also develop PTSD, but the symptoms are different.
If you are re-experiencing an event, avoiding things and people related to the event or are constantly angry and on edge you will benefit from therapy. While there are many types of therapy (talk therapy, exposure therapy and cognitive restructuring) for trauma, EMDR (Eye Movement and Densensitization and Reprocessing)has also been shown to be effective in the treatment of PTSD.
In PTSD traumatic memories not fully processed can get stuck in the brain along with the associated emotions and physical sensations. EMDR utilizes bilateral stimulation of the brain to accelerate the processing of these memories. Bilateral stimulation includes tracking the counsellor’s hand, tapping, or listening to alternating beeps, as you think about the event. Examples include, but are not limited to assault, natural disasters, accidents and abuse. For more information on EMDR go to www.emdr.com.
If you would like to learn more about PTSD, EMDR or talk to qualified registered psychotherapist that can help, please contact Annette Poechman at 905-520-5859 or click here. There is no need to be alone in your journey. Reach out now and take the first step. Listening. Guiding. Caring.
