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PTSD

How Do I know If I Have PTSD?

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How do I know if I have PTSD,or C-PTSD?

PTSD is an acronym for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and CPTSD is Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. 

Many people are under the impression that PTSD is mainly from those who have had combat experience. We can all understand how those that have lived through gunfire or bombs falling around them, would be panicked during a fireworks display, or startled when something falls on the floor unexpectedly, or feel panicked in crowds. Just to mention a few examples.

Defining Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

We may not realize that any traumatic event, regardless of our age, gender, or having our lives in danger, can cause Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. 

The actual definition from Merriam-Webster dictionary is: a condition of persistent mental and emotional stress occurring as a result of injury or severe psychological shock, typically involving disturbance of sleep and constant vivid recall of the experience, with dulled responses to others and to the outside world.   

The APA (American Psychological Association) defines PTSD:  is an anxiety disorder caused by a traumatic event, such as combat, a natural disaster or crime, or even a traffic accident. It may affect personal relationships or health

From the NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health): (PTSD is) a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event.

If you have any trauma in your past, or living daily with trauma from living in a toxic living situation, you likely are suffering with PTSD. Sometimes we don’t even realize it, thinking instead that you have trouble sleeping, don’t like crowds, or get inexplicable bouts of high emotions because you’re just sensitive. Some may even feel completely numb, just going through the motions of everyday life.

Any of these could be a sign of PTSD.

Oftentimes it’s the “strong” ones, the ones who are healers or helpers that don’t realize they actually have PTSD. They themselves may be reluctant to reach out for help. They may think that others live through so much worse, so they just need to live with it. 

Many people will think, “Something to help me sleep is all I need”, rather than getting to the root of the issue.

Many feel they may be overly “sensitive” or have had therapy for a childhood traumatic event, so don’t relate the issues facing them now, as still causing issues and may actually be PTSD or CPTSD. 

Regardless of the label or clinical diagnosis, please reach out if you’re feeling any anxiety, depression which causes all kinds of other issues throughout life. You may not realize your life or that a specific event in your life, was actually traumatising. 

As I always say, there is not one type of therapy or treatment that is best for all. It does take patience and diligence to find a good fit. 

There are many types of therapists, with varying specialties, at different education and training levels.Having a therapist you’re comfortable with is most important. Any therapist of any kind will be open about their training and education. 

You will find  my own information here “Meet Your Hypnotherapist” 

Meet Your Hypnotherapist

If you’re interested in learning how hypnotherapy might be helpful for you, reach out with any questions or concerns. Consultations are always free and include a sample session so you can see how it feels for you. 

Thank you so much for being here. I love to hear from you all. I’m open to suggestions for other article topics you would like to see me write about, as well as any thoughts on this or any other articles. 

Stay well, inside and out.  Pamela Topjian LVN, CHt

Childhood Trauma.

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Are your mental health issues rooted in childhood?

Why I decided to specialize with inner child work. I am a certified Hypnotherapist and changed careers from nursing, where I had the honor to work with many families in many areas of healthcare. Including, but not limited to, detox and recovery, home health pediatrics, and in a children’s psychiatric hospital. More on the career change here: http://hypnobreakthrough.com/index.php/2020/10/24/why-i-left-nursing/

I decided to focus on inner child work mainly from my own breakthrough during therapy a few years ago, where I realized that my own childhood had been a major contributor to my adult issues throughout my life. It took much too long for me to realize this, in my 50’s, after two unhealthy marriages and raising my own children. I also began to notice that many of my Hypnotherapy clients came to me for one issue only to realize after a couple sessions that the issue was rooted in childhood. You may not be able to heal from what may seem like a surface level issue, or something all together unrelated to your childhood,  until you dig deeper in the subconscious. I decided I wanted to help others get to the root of the issue sooner, so they can live a more fulfilling life. 

Trauma in childhood can cause many mental health issues in adulthood (not to be confused with mental illness, diseases or disabilities.) Including, but not limited to, Addictions, (remember that addiction is not always about drugs or alcohol)  lack of self esteem and self confidence, issues with relationships, trust, attachment, attracting or being attracted to abusive or controlling partners, repeating cycles and patterns passed down from our own parents, often for generations. Just to name a few. 

Mixed Media art by Artist, Aeron Brown 

You may wonder how you could possibly be having issues that are commonly associated with the inner child, or childhood trauma if your childhood was ‘normal’ or average, or even have mainly only good memories. We tend to think of childhood trauma in terms of extremes, such as physical or sexual abuse, and severe cases of willful neglect. However, that’s just not the case.

What other kinds of things cause childhood trauma? Parents who often argue or fight (physical or otherwise) within earshot of the children, or involving the children in the fights or arguments, absent parents, divorce, even friendly, respectful divorce can cause childhood trauma, poverty, death of a friend or loved one in childhood, under or over stimulation, being witness to a traumatic event that didn’t involve the child without explanation, or a supporting loving place to express feelings or ask questions about what was witnessed  ….and so much more. We hear so often that children are resilient, and they ’bounce back’. Parents are often wrongly advised to not talk about “it” or to hide their emotions around the children. Which actually causes more confusion for the kids. 

Credit: Mary Anne Enriquez On Flickr, Under Creative Commons

How to heal? Childhood trauma benefits from inner child work; which may include forgiveness, connecting with the inner child to re-parent the little one inside, or unlearning of limiting beliefs and old patterns. There are certainly many ways to do this, not all involve therapy. A ‘toolbox’ approach is best, having and using several choices and options to help work through the issues, and heal. Some treatments and therapies work better for others, something that has helped one person may not do anything for another. It does take patience and diligence to find out what’s best for you. The best place to start is to practice self care. My next article will offer some examples of the many ways to heal from childhood trauma. 

Reach out. Whether you feel that you have suffered childhood trauma or not, please reach out if you need help to cope. There is no shame or weakness in asking for help. You don’t have to know what exactly is wrong or why. If you’re feeling you need help – you’re not fulfilled, feel stuck or scared or unsure what’s going on, but just not happy – reach out, don’t suffer in silence! Mental health care matters, and you matter!

 It seems asking for help is one of the hardest things to do, especially for those of us that are considered the strong ones, or the ones that everyone else comes to for advice, or to vent or be a shoulder to cry on. Helping others is healing, but even the healer needs to remember self care and to seek help when needed as well. 

I want to thank you all so much for being here. I love hearing from you, please feel free to reach out anytime about anything. Do you have an idea for an article, or something you would like to see me write about? Do you have questions about hypnotherapy?  Are you wondering if hypnotherapy can help you with your own issues and goals. I always welcome feedback and questions. I offer complimentary phone consultations, where we can have a chat about hypnotherapy, get any questions answered and even get a sample session so you can see how it feels. 

You can contact me by email Pamela@HypnoBreakthrough.com or by using the contact form on the homepage here: HypnoBreakthrough.com 

Please take care, inside and out 

Pamela Topjian, LVN, CHt