Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) occurs after a severe trauma has occurred in a person’s life. The trauma may be a recent event, such as a car accident, an injury, the sudden traumatic death of a loved one, or combat, or it may be historical, such as an adult who was abused as a child or a person who was raped years before, who begins having memories of flashbacks of their experience. When people experience a trauma, it can place them at risk for PTSD. Some people experience trauma and never develop post traumatic stress disorder, while other individuals experience a trauma and begin having symptoms of PTSD immediately.
PTSD can also have a delayed onset, so that a person begins to experience the symptoms several weeks, months or years after the traumatic event occurred. Post traumatic stress disorder symptoms include: flashbacks or intrusive memories of the traumatic event, avoiding anything that reminds a person of the event or severe anxiety at being exposed to reminders of the traumatic event (for example, a person was in a terrible auto accident in a blue mini-van might find themselves having sudden heart palpitations or shortness of breath and fearfulness any time they see a blue mini-van). Therapy can be tremendously helpful in allowing a person to work through a traumatic experience and to address the symptoms of PTSD.
All CPC Counselors work with PTSD and trauma. Meet our counselors and see who might be the best fit for you at Counselors or call our Referral Coordinator at (703) 903-9696 ext. 290 for a recommendation.