Trauma

Trauma can affect anyone at any time, having devastating effects on their mental health. Experienced psychologist Tioana Maxwell, PsyD, is a trauma specialist at Bridging the Gap Psychological Services in Greater Houston area, Texas. They help people come to terms with their experiences and overcome the effects of trauma with expert psychotherapy programs. If you’re in the Greater Houston area and interested in overcoming your trauma, call Bridging the Gap Psychological Services or request a consultation online today.

What is trauma?

Trauma could be any event where you experience or witness physical and/or psychological harm. Traumatic events are emotionally distressing and could be frightening or life-threatening. Common traumas include:

• Life-changing injuries like paralysis
• Childhood neglect
• Air, sea, and rail disasters
• Racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination
• Personal assault or rape
• Emotional, physical, and sexual abuse
• A loved one’s death
• Natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes
• Serious auto accidents
• Terrorist attacks
• Being in a war zone

Suffering trauma doesn’t always lead to lasting psychological harm, providing you process the experience properly and get help if needed. However, some people struggle to deal with trauma and develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Isn’t PTSD something soldiers get in combat?

It’s true that PTSD is best known for affecting armed forces personnel. For example, a soldier might be injured by an improvised explosive device (IED) or see his comrades die in the blast and develop PTSD as a result. However, trauma and PTSD can affect anyone after a life-changing experience.

At Bridging the Gap Psychological Services, the team offers all-encompassing trauma care. They have considerable expertise in treating PTSD and have helped many patients recover from life-changing traumas.

How do I know if trauma has affected me?

You’re bound to feel pretty terrible after any trauma — you may experience depression following a bereavement or be scared of being alone after an assault.

The shock and horror take time to wear off, and it’s normal to be distressed for several weeks or more after severe trauma. Taking time to care for yourself and getting support during the initial period should help the feelings subside.

Symptoms that might indicate you have PTSD include:

• Flashbacks (reliving the trauma)
• Frequent nightmares
• Irritability and anger
• Panic attacks
• Being easily startled
• Avoiding any reminders of the event
• Social withdrawal
• Poor school or work performance
• Depression and anxiety
• Persistent negative thoughts
• Loss of interest in enjoyable activities
• Difficulties concentrating
• Trouble sleeping

If your distress doesn’t get better, or you thought you were OK and find you’re becoming worse again, visit Bridging the Gap Psychological Services for a trauma evaluation.

They provide talk therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and family systems therapy to help you manage the problems PTSD causes in daily life. It’s also important to talk about your experience in a safe environment.

People with moderate to severe PTSD might require medications like antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs to reduce their symptoms. Your provider can refer you to a trusted specialist for medication.

Call Bridging the Gap Psychological Services or book an appointment online today if trauma is overshadowing your life.