Trauma occurs when you experience an event that leads to the experience of profound helplessness. These experiences can have lasting negative effects on your mental, physical, emotional, social, and even spiritual well-being.

When the mental impact of trauma worsens over time and affects your ability to function in daily life, it can develop into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

At Agentic Mental Health, we understand how profoundly trauma can affect your life. We provide various forms of treatment to help you manage and overcome its impact. 

Our team provides a supportive environment designed to make you feel understood and in control, allowing you to process your experience at your own pace.

There is no set rule about what can be considered traumatic. Trauma is a personal experience. Only you can understand how deeply an event affects you. Even if someone else has gone through a similar experience, they might be affected differently.

Some examples of events that may be considered traumatic include:

• Major accidents, such as car crashes
• Severe injuries or sudden illnesses
• War and combat experiences
• Natural disasters like tornadoes, fires, or floods
• Physical or verbal abuse
• Physical neglect 
• Emotional neglect 
• Sexual assault or abuse
• Bullying
• Death of a loved one
• Acts of terrorism
• Witnessing a death

While many people experience potentially traumatic events once in their lifetime, the impact may vary greatly. Everyone responds to traumatic events differently. 

Often, there are no visible signs, even though you may experience serious emotional reactions. Trauma can lead to many physical and emotional effects, such as:

• Flashbacks where you relive aspects of a traumatic event or feeling as if it is happening now
• Panic attacks where you experience a sudden surge of fear, mimicking the body's fight-or-flight response in a non-threatening situation
• Dissociation as a coping mechanism where you feel detached from yourself or your surroundings, as if numb or spaced out
• Sleep problems where you face difficulty falling or staying asleep, feel unsafe at night, or have nightmares
• Self-neglect where you struggle to meet your basic needs like eating, hygiene, or maintaining a safe living space 
• Self-harm where you hurt yourself as a way of dealing with very difficult feelings, painful memories, or overwhelming situations
• Suicidal feelings where you have constant thoughts of ending your life, such as thinking about methods of suicide or making plans to take your own life
• Alcohol & substance misuse, where you use substances as a way to cope with difficult emotions or memories
• Relational difficulties where you find forming or maintaining healthy relationships challenging

Traumatic experiences have been linked to substance use, risky behaviors, and mental health conditions, such as depression and PTSD.

While some people recover from trauma with time and self-care, for others, the symptoms and feelings of distress do not fade. Instead, they can intensify over time, significantly disrupting their daily life and leading to PTSD. 

PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a severely traumatic event. 

If you are dealing with PTSD, you may be grappling with intense, intrusive thoughts and emotions tied to the traumatic event. It can trigger intense physical and emotional responses to anything connected to the event, lasting for months or even years after the traumatic incident.

At Agentic Mental Health, we understand that seeking help for PTSD can be daunting. 

Discussing a traumatic experience can be incredibly difficult, and the fear of reliving that trauma can be a significant barrier. That is why our approach to diagnosing PTSD prioritizes building your trust and creating a safe, supportive environment for you to open up. 

Our process may involve:

• Neurological exam: We perform a complete medical history and neurological exam to rule out physical illnesses as the cause of your symptoms. 
• In-depth conversation: Our counselors have a detailed conversation about your current symptoms and how they impact your daily life, and explore your mental health history. This helps us get the full picture and identify potential connections to past traumas.
• Trauma-informed approach: Our therapists understand the impact of trauma on your mental and emotional well-being. We tailor our approach to be sensitive and supportive.

We utilize the criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association, to ensure an accurate diagnosis.

At Agentic Mental Health, we understand that trauma can leave a lasting impact on your life. Sharing your story and opening up about traumatic experiences is a courageous step. 

We also acknowledge that talking about your trauma can also be re-traumatizing. You can end up:

• Reliving the emotional & physical experience: When you recount the details of your trauma, it can trigger the same overwhelming emotions and physical sensations you experienced during the original event. This can leave you feeling unsafe, vulnerable, and emotionally flooded.
• Losing control: Trauma often involves a feeling of helplessness and loss of control. Discussing the event can bring those feelings back to the surface and make you feel out of control again. 
• Feeling shame & dissociating: Some traumas may be associated with feelings of shame or judgment, and talking about them can intensify those feelings. Additionally, discussing the trauma can trigger dissociation as a way to protect yourself from reliving the pain. 

Everyone experiences trauma differently. Some people may feel a sense of relief and empowerment after sharing their story, while others may find it intensely triggering.

At Agentic Mental Health, our approach is centered on building trust. We prioritize your safety and well-being throughout the healing process. Our team focuses on creating a supportive environment where you feel safe to open up and heal at your own pace. We ensure:

• Supportive environment: We create a warm, welcoming, judgment-free space where you feel respected, heard, and believed. You are in complete control of what you share and how quickly you share it.
• Establishing trust: Prior to working through the details of the actual trauma, we will work to earn a patient’s trust. Being compelled to discuss the details of trauma prior to trust being earned runs the risk of re-traumatizing a person.
• Your pace: Healing from trauma is a journey, not a race. We encourage you to take your time and explore your experiences in a way that feels manageable for you. There is no pressure to rush this process.
• Empathy & validation: Our therapists are committed to listening with empathy and validating your experiences. We acknowledge that your trauma is real, your feelings are valid, and your journey toward healing is unique.

Working through trauma is a delicate process that requires careful and compassionate handling. By building trust and prioritizing your safety, we can create a space for you to gently explore your trauma in a way that empowers healing. 

While we employ evidence-based approaches to address trauma, the focus remains on your journey. We offer a variety of treatment options to address the mental health effects of trauma and PTSD. 

At Agentic Mental Health, we are dedicated to supporting your mental health and helping you regain control of your life and happiness. Our team creates a safe, supportive environment where you feel secure, can open up at your own pace, and begin processing your experience.

To book a consultation, call us at 434-284-5980 or schedule an appointment online.