Have you experienced a life changing event that causes you significant distress?
It’s hard to talk about what happened
You have nightmares about the event
You can’t stop thinking about what happened
It feels like something is constantly looming over you
Overcome your Trauma
If you’re feeling this way, please know that change is possible! You are not alone.
Have you experienced something that has made you feel out of control?
It’s hard to stop thinking about what happened
Things in your daily life often remind you of the event
You experience nightmares
You feel paranoid
The event has changed how you feel yourself and the world around you
It’s hard to talk about what happened
You feel physical discomfort when thinking about what happened
If you are feeling some of these ways, you may be experiencing symptoms of trauma.
Fight - Flight - Freeze - Fawn
Fight:
Facing a threat aggressively
Flight:
Running away from danger
Freeze:
Inability to move or act against a threat
Fawn:
Immediately acting to please or avoid conflict
Controlled by our sympathetic nervous system, when humans perceive a serious threat, we tend to react based on our fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response. Because these 4 F’s are biologically instilled in us, all individuals instinctively use the 4 F’s to react to danger. At times, these reactions are necessary to keep us safe. However, individuals who have experienced a traumatic event may still feel the negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviors associated with the 4 F’s, even though in the moment they may not actually be in danger. The trauma event has imprinted itself onto our mind and body, making our sympathetic nervous system more reactive.
Educating ourselves about trauma and understanding the way it manifests is our first line of defense towards healing. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) and Mindfulness-Based Interventions are widely researched approaches to understanding and overcoming our trauma. Click here to learn more about CBT. Click here to learn more about Mindfulness. Don’t worry! If you are not ready to speak about what has happened to you, that’s totally okay! TF-CBT can be effective with or without sharing your trauma story. You can find your path to joy, healing, and growth wherever you are in your journey. You are ready to overcome your trauma!
Here are some things we can work on together in overcoming your trauma:
Gaining a deeper understanding of what trauma is and what it looks like for you
Getting unstuck from your thinking patterns
Relieving your mind and body of unwanted tension
A clearer sense of who you are and how you fit in the world around you
Greater ability in coping with difficult emotions
Applying the Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) model in your life
Identifying trauma triggers and how to overcome them
Processing your trauma in a safe space
Taking steps to move forward with your life
Identifying what your values and goals are and how to achieve them
Building your own efficacy and strengthening your resiliency