PTSD, Trauma Therapy & Growth

What is PTSD?

Most of us have been in situations where our bodies have either gone into the fight, flight or even freeze mode. Imagine spotting a snake through the corner of your eye and just running away. It is also possible that you might just try to kill it to protect yourself, or your body just shuts down and does neither of the two. The point being, all of these are normal life preserving responses that happen whenever a situation like this arises. However, some experiences can cause long term, repetitive changes in the mind-body connection that may haunt one for a long time to come.

Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD is a mental disorder that develops as a result of exposure to a traumatic event or a series of them, and negatively affects how one feels, thinks and behaves. These traumatic events may include sexual assault, natural disasters like earthquakes and floods, unexpected death of loved ones, war, domestic violence, road accidents, etc. This may be a result of actually living the event or witnessing it.

People may go through life-altering and extremely painful events and have trouble adjusting to these but may eventually learn to cope and adapt to life. However, if the symptoms of trauma extend beyond a time limit and start negatively interfering with one’s daily activities– it may be PTSD.

How does PTSD manifest itself?

Trauma has many colors. In PTSD, this color palette may be as unique as the person experiencing them. However, there are some symptoms that appear more commonly throughout the population struggling with it.

Intrusive memories and re-experiencing the traumatic event in the form of flashbacks
Physical and emotional changes like hyperarousal or “feeling on edge”
Negative changes in thinking and mood
Emotional numbing or avoidance
Substance abuse
Self-harm and/or suicidal thoughts
Moral injury due to shame, guilt or regret
Nightmares, insomnia or hypersomnia
Memory loss or distortion (usually related to the details of the particular traumatic event)

It is not uncommon for trauma survivors to develop other psychological conditions like anxiety, depression, substance abuse disorders and phobias. This further complicates the already delicate situation and worsens the after effects of the traumatic event. Nonetheless, with the right therapeutic intervention, a significantly positive recovery can be made.

Trauma Therapy:

Prevention– An early intervention within a few days or weeks of the traumatic event is known to remarkably decrease the symptoms of PTSD. Seeking timely help by confiding in family and friends, turning to one’s community of faith or religion or by reaching out to a mental health professional for help– can make a huge difference in the intensity of symptoms experienced.

Treatment– Trauma-informed therapy is a trauma-focused treatment that deals with the thoughts, feelings and behaviors associated with the emotional response following a traumatic event. It focuses on diminishing or eliminating the said traumatization.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT)– The therapy deals with children, adolescents, and families and targets early trauma. The principles of family therapy are also included. Post-traumatic stress and mood disorders that accompany trauma are also focused on. Therapy is provided in the presence of a non-offending parent or caregiver, usually when victims of abuse are being treated.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)– This therapy aids one in processing disturbing memories that were not properly processed. By targeting the thoughts, feelings, beliefs and bodily sensations comprising the memory– the therapy alters the way the memory interacts with the brain. The focus is directly dealing with and reducing the vividness of the disturbing memory.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)- This therapy gradually makes it more comfortable for one to deal with painful memories, feelings and similar situations. It enables one to learn that the said memories and situations can be dealt with and pose no danger.It reduces avoidance behavior and increases the level of control one has over their memories.

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)- This therapy empowers one to alter unhelpful beliefs and thought patterns related to a traumatic experience. It significantly increases one’s capacity to address negative life experiences and enhances the quality of life as well. It also provides one with a better understanding of how the traumatic event impacted them, their loved ones and others. It increases insight and awareness.

Written Exposure Therapy (WET)- This therapy utilizes a short number of sessions and enables one to explore their trauma and the traumatic experience by writing it down through specific target assignments. It establishes better control over the memory, enhances insight and gives one a 360 degree view of the situation. Hence, allowing them to deal with it properly.

Post Traumatic Growth: Myth Or Reality?

Telling someone with PTSD that they must find meaning in their pain is ignorant, to say the least. For them, it may be almost unimaginable at the time when they are struggling to even entertain the idea of leading an integrated life of purpose. However, as healing takes place and they learn to better manage the pain, the suggestion may not be outrageous.

Hamilton Jordan, an American politician, wrote a memoir in which he commented on the changes he experienced post his battle with cancer. In No Such Thing as a Bad Day: A Memoir (2000), he explained how the smallest of joys like watching a beautiful sunset, a hug from his child, and a laugh with his wife took on a special meaning. None of these beautiful experiences eroded with time for him, they only grew dearer.

The scientific study of the PTG emerged in the 90s but with the advent of positive psychology, the phenomenon has attracted wide attention from innumerable researchers throughout the world.

PTG refers to those unique individual changes of significant positive growth that emerge from struggles with major highly challenging life crises and traumatic experiences. It appears in varied forms and shapes, like– increased appreciation for beauty and art, finding meaning within interpersonal relationships, optimism for future, gratitude for the simpler pleasures in life, investing in personal and existential growth, and increased spirituality.

While the journey of trauma and pain does seem long and hefty, it does not have an inevitable and painful end. PTSD, like any mental disorder, is very treatable and manageable. Not only that, a huge amount of research also points towards the silver lining of post traumatic growth.

So, one is not merely designed to live “despite” the trauma, but also “because” of it. Fuller, healthier and meaningfully so.