If you are experiencing crisis or are in need of immediate support, please call 9-1-1. If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. CMHA 24/7 Crisis Phone Line Local: 705-728-5044 or Toll-Free: 1-888-893-8333. 

If you are experiencing crisis or are in need of immediate support, please call 9-1-1. If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. CMHA 24/7 Crisis Phone Line Local: 705-728-5044 or Toll-Free: 1-888-893-8333. 

If you're looking for PTSD therapy in Barrie, you're in the right place. This article explores Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), including symptoms and causes, and the healing impact of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy.

What is PTSD?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychological condition that can occur when a person experiences a situation that is fearful, overwhelming, or distressing. When stress isn't fully processed, it becomes stored in the mind and remembered by the body well after the fearful event has passed. This can be very disrupting to everyday life and people who live with PTSD often have a hard time feeling safe.

Common symptoms of PTSD include:

• Feeling as though you are re-experiencing the event all over again. This may occur in the form of memories, flashbacks, and/or nightmares and be accompanied by intense fear.
• Avoidance of situations that trigger distressing feelings or memories; expending energy creating avoidance strategies that ultimately strengthen the fear behind PTSD.
• Hyperarousal in the body; feeling unable to rest or relax, even in calm moments.
• Mental health disorders including depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

What Causes PTSD?

You may think of a traumatic experience as something that seems major and catastrophic, but in actuality, traumatic events and reactions are broad and unique to a person’s individual circumstances. Any event that causes a person to feel intense fear, distress, or emotional overwhelm can potentially become stored in the mind and remembered by the body, which is why you should take your experience seriously, regardless of how traumatic you think the event was. 

Traumatic experiences can include:

• Fetal and birth trauma
• Natural disasters
• Surgeries, including medical and dental procedures
• Illness
• Loss of a loved one
• Accidents and physical injuries
• Witnessing violence, abuse, or neglect
• Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
• Experiencing abandonment

PTSD Therapy for First Responders

While anyone can experience a traumatic event, some people are more at risk. First responders, including ambulance drivers, police officers, paramedics, and military personnel, are expected to experience distressing situations as part of their job. At Words of Hope Counselling, we offer specialized therapy for First Responders. Learn more by visiting our First Responders Therapy page.

Why Do Some People Develop PTSD While Others Don't?

The World Health Organization speculates that around 70% of people will go through a potentially traumatic experience in their lifetime. How a person recovers from a traumatic incident and whether or not they develop PTSD depends on a wide array of factors, including the level of support from family and friends, health status, life situation, and learned capabilities from childhood.

A situation that is easily processed by one person may evoke a dramatically different reaction from someone else, which is why the development of PTSD does not indicate weakness or deficiency.

According to Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma by Psychotherapist Peter Levine, denial and repression of authentic experience and feelings is one of the greatest blocks a person faces in their trauma healing journey. If you’ve been feeling as though you don’t deserve to reach out for help, what you experienced isn’t “severe enough”, or you should be “strong” and simply “move on”, it’s time to break this limiting thought pattern and embrace the healing you deserve.

Why Support From a Therapist Can Be Life-Changing for Trauma and PTSD

If you are experiencing PTSD symptoms or feel as though you are recovering from a traumatic event, receiving support from a trauma-informed psychotherapist can greatly accelerate your healing process. A trauma-informed therapist is someone who has undergone rigorous training to understand the effects of trauma on the mind and body. With great sensitivity to your unique experiences and background, a therapist can assess your symptoms, provide a PTSD diagnoses, and create a specialized treatment plan so that you can live a fulfilling life beyond trauma. A therapist will also work closely with you to implement this plan, help you stay on track with your goals, and support you through the challenges that arise on your journey.

Reaching out for support is a brave and radical act of self-love that impacts not just you, but everyone around you as well. As you begin to integrate all parts of yourself and your experiences, your capacity to experience love, satisfaction, and fulfillment will increase. Getting in touch with the side of you that feels vulnerable and afraid isn’t comfortable or easy, but doing so is imperative for you to move towards a life of greater ease and joy.

What is EMDR Therapy and How Does It Help PTSD?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a safe and transformative therapeutic process designed to alleviate the burdens of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

During an EMDR session, people briefly revisit distressing memories in a safe environment while engaging in guided eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation. This process helps the brain reprocess distressing memories, reducing their emotional intensity and transforming how they are stored in the mind.

What is the Science behind EMDR?

Just as your body heals from physical pain, the mind can heal from psychological pain. When you injure yourself, your body naturally works towards healing the wound. If a blockage is present, the wound cannot properly heal. Your mind is similarly wired. After the occurrence of a traumatic incident, your mind will naturally undergo an integration process so that you can recover and carry on with your normal life. Sometimes, the impact of an event can become stored within us and create a blockage, which prevents our system’s natural healing process from functioning. This is where EMDR therapy comes in.

Is EMDR Therapy Safe?

EMDR is a safe and evidence-based therapy technique that has been shown to be highly effective in addressing a wide range of mental health challenges, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, depression, and trauma-related issues. Throughout the EMDR therapy process, a trained psychotherapist will guide you every step of the way and ensure that you feel safe and comfortable. Learn more about EMDR here.

What To Expect From EMDR Therapy: How Can EMDR Help Me Heal from Trauma?

Through EMDR, many individuals find themselves experiencing newfound clarity, strong emotional relief, and the confidence to face life’s challenges with a renewed sense of strength and self-compassion. EMDR works to transform your understanding of an incident by accessing your brain’s emotional and intellectual processing. For example, someone who has experienced abuse may carry feelings of deep shame. A successful EMDR session can shift feelings of self-blame and self-disgust to a perspective of strength, resilience, and courage.

Find A Trauma-Informed Therapist in Barrie

At Words of Hope Counselling in Barrie, we offer trauma-informed EMDR therapy. Our trained EMDR psychotherapist, Kirstyn Clare, has over a decade of experience working with adults and youths who have experienced trauma, substance addiction, anxiety, and depression.

Learn More About PTSD and EMDR Therapy at Words of Hope Counselling in Barrie

To learn more about Trauma and PTSD Therapy at Words of Hope Counselling, visit our Trauma and PTSD Therapy page here.

To learn more about EMDR Therapy at Words of Hope Counselling, visit our EMDR Therapy page here.

Reach Out Today

Do you have questions before you begin therapy? We're here for you!

Send us an email at info@wordsofhopecounselling.com or give us a call at 705-220-3599. 

Your call will go directly to Words of Hope Counselling owner, Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist, Tanis Vos.

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