Learning to Effectively Manage Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Generally we tend to view the world as a safe place wherein we can trust our own judgment, connect with other people in a deep and meaningful way, and the threat of harm seems distant or far off. However there are times when we might encounter an event or events that so disrupt or disturb this worldview, it can leave us feeling helpless and/or powerless. Trauma is a terrible thing for any individual to experience. Sometimes after a traumatic event we view the world as a place of danger and potential injury, and it significantly interferes with our ability to feel happy and to relate to significant people in our lives.
Individuals who struggle with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) sometimes fear that they are "going crazy." However, PTSD is a condition that could impact any one of us if the right circumstances presented themselves. A metaphor often used for PTSD is that is our traumatic event is this thing that we try to put in a box and store on a shelf deep it in the back of our minds. We hope/think that if we can stay busy enough or self-medicate enough we can forget about what happened or erase it from our memories. However, the object inside the box often demands to be addressed and it can seem to dominate our thoughts and emotions.
At Manhattan Mental Health Services, LLC, we strive to help individuals explore the events and thoughts that are leading them to persistently re-experience their past trauma. And, we do so in a safe and respectful manner. The goal is that together we will open the box, examine and organize the contents, and then place them back on the shelf so that they become integrated with our other memories. This is not to say that the memories or experiences disappear or do not impact us in some way, but rather they are no longer such a powerful force that can significantly interfere with our daily functioning.
Individuals who struggle with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) sometimes fear that they are "going crazy." However, PTSD is a condition that could impact any one of us if the right circumstances presented themselves. A metaphor often used for PTSD is that is our traumatic event is this thing that we try to put in a box and store on a shelf deep it in the back of our minds. We hope/think that if we can stay busy enough or self-medicate enough we can forget about what happened or erase it from our memories. However, the object inside the box often demands to be addressed and it can seem to dominate our thoughts and emotions.
At Manhattan Mental Health Services, LLC, we strive to help individuals explore the events and thoughts that are leading them to persistently re-experience their past trauma. And, we do so in a safe and respectful manner. The goal is that together we will open the box, examine and organize the contents, and then place them back on the shelf so that they become integrated with our other memories. This is not to say that the memories or experiences disappear or do not impact us in some way, but rather they are no longer such a powerful force that can significantly interfere with our daily functioning.
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