Online and In-Person Therapy in Henderson and Las Vegas
Have You Experienced Trauma?
Are you living with the distressing and isolating effects of trauma? At Hello Therapy, our therapists near you can provide a safe and supportive environment where you can process your experiences, work through emotional wounds, and find resilience in the face of adversity.
what is trauma?
Trauma is a possible result of extraordinarily stressful events, particularly those that shatter your sense of security. Often times the words and phrases “traumatized, “PTSD” or “traumatic” are used. Traumatic experiences often involve a threat to life or safety, but any situation that leaves you feeling overwhelmed and isolated can result in trauma, even if it doesn’t involve physical harm. It’s not the objective circumstances that determine whether an event is traumatic, but your subjective emotional experience of the event. The more frightened and helpless you feel, the more likely you are to be traumatized. Experiencing a traumatic event does not necessarily mean that you are traumatized or have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, but often times can still present scary or negative consequences that require professional help.
common examples of trauma…
Domestic Violence
Childhood Abuse
Rape
Sexual Abuse
Assault and/or battery
Natural Disasters
Serious Accidents
Community Violence
Verbal Abuse
Police Brutality
Witnessing Violence or Abuse
Sudden or violent deaths of close friends or family
Major surgery
Life threatening illness
War or political violence
Abandonment
Divorce
Prison Time
Near death experiences
Robberies or muggings
Any perceived or actual harm
symptoms of trauma can include…
Physical Symptoms
Flashbacks
Hyper Alertness
Confusion or Disorientation
Difficulty thinking clearly
Upsetting dreams / Nightmares
Risk Taking / Thrill Seeking tendencies
Difficulty with memory
Difficulty Sleeping
Addictive Behaviors
Mental / Emotional Symptoms
Emotional Numbness
Anxiety / Intense Fear
Depression
Overwhelming Guilt and/or Grief
Feeling alone
Hopelessness
Irritable, anger or aggressive behavior
Intrusive or distressing memories
Loss of interest in actives previously enjoyed
about trauma
Trauma in its simplest form is a life changing event. When we speak of trauma we often think of it as a negative experience that changes life in a negative way but there is no rule that says that has to be the case. While it may sound trite, at Hello Therapy our goal to take those painful life experiences and alleviate the pain surrounding them and help to make sense of it all, so that you can create a new narrative of your experience and grow to meet your hardships.
Although the pain of trauma can be overwhelming and isolating, you are not alone or weak for what you are going through. Many people experience a traumatic event at some point in their lives, sometimes without realizing it until years or even decades later. It’s possible to forget or bury a traumatic experience until something else—such as a period of high stress, conflict in a relationship, or even a particular smell associated with what happened—triggers all those feelings of fear and pain.
Psychologically speaking, trauma is a very unique issue that is often extremely persistent due to the fact that trauma actually changes our brains. It's essential to get help after you've experienced trauma. It is necessary to talk about your pain and start to process the traumatic event itself. The best place to do this processing is with a mental health professional who is skilled at helping people who have been through trauma. Remember you didn't bring your trauma upon yourself, but you can take steps to heal from it with the support of your therapist.
If you are in the Henderson or Las Vegas area and looking for help with trauma or PTSD, please schedule an appointment at our Henderson office. We would love to talk with you and hear about your life.