When we encounter stressful, life-threatening or life-altering situations, our minds and bodies go into protective mode—we’re focused on surviving, not thinking about how to make things better.
Our brains shut down, and our thoughts get stuck in an endless loop. We can’t think straight, and we feel paralyzed. In these moments, our memories might be scrambled, or they might be so vivid that we can’t tell if what’s happening is real or imagined. And then, after minutes or hours, we come out of it, and we remember everything. But we also carry those memories with us forever, whether we want them to or not.
Our bodies are designed to respond to threats such as physical injury, emotional distress, or environmental hazards. In times of danger, our brains release chemicals called neurotransmitters that cause muscles to contract, heart rate to increase, breathing to quicken, blood pressure to rise, and glands to secrete hormones into the bloodstream. These responses prepare us to either flee or fight. However, if these chemical changes occur too often or last too long they can create an imbalance between the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) and the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest). This imbalance causes symptoms similar to those experienced after exposure to extreme stress.
So, what is PTSD?
PTSD commonly manifests as flashbacks triggered by reminders of the trauma. These memories cause intense emotional responses as if the traumatic events were happening again. They often occur spontaneously without warning and can arise in response either to a specific stimulus (e.g., a smell) or to something unrelated (e.g., hearing a song). The sufferer may lose contact with reality as the feelings overwhelm him/her, and he/she may act inappropriately or irrationally. He/she may also engage in self-destructive behavior such as substance abuse or recklessly driving. Some people who suffer from PTSD develop insomnia because of recurring nightmares about the trauma.
What causes PTSD?
Trauma can occur in any situation where one person experiences pain or injury caused by another person or group of people. Common examples include being physically assaulted, sexually abused, or robbed. In addition to these types of events, trauma can also happen through watching violent movies or reading about violence in books or magazines. People who work in emergency rooms or medical facilities may witness deaths or injuries every day. These situations can cause them to develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
How can a therapist support you through processing trauma and managing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms? Talking about traumatic experiences with a trained therapist can give you a sense of grounding and connection amid these overwhelming emotions. It may also provide some needed distance from the trauma, and a place to evaluate your feelings towards the memory. Gradually confronting the experience in a safe therapeutic environment can help you desensitize yourself towards the fear your memories create and teach you how to better manage them.
