PTSD

What is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental health condition that may occur following a traumatic experience. Humans are hard-wired to react to scary, dangerous, or shocking events in an attempt to survive. While a person who has experienced a potentially traumatic event may experience a range of symptoms following the distressing experience, these typically begin to diminish over time. In some cases, where multiple symptoms persist for an extended period of time, the person may be diagnosed with PTSD.

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 4 out of 100 people will experience PTSD at some point in their lifetime. 40% of people diagnosed with PTSD recover within one year. In many cases, people diagnosed with PTSD may also experience a co-occurring condition such as depression, one or more anxiety disorders, or substance use disorder.

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

A person experiencing PTSD will experience a number of symptoms that may include:

  • Flashbacks
  • Reoccurring memories or dreams
  • Distressing and/or intrusive thoughts
  • Physical signs of stress
  • Avoidance of places, objects, events, or people related to the experience
  • Avoidance of thoughts of feelings related to the experience
  • Difficulties sleeping
  • Difficulties with memory and/or concentration
  • Startle easily
  • On-edge or hyper-vigilant
  • Risk taking behaviours
  • Loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed
  • Self-blame, shame, and/or self-hatred
  • Social isolation/withdrawal
  • Struggles feeling positive emotions

 

Children can experience PTSD too. In addition to symptoms experienced by adults, children experiencing PTSD may include:

  • Behavioural regression (forgetting how to do things they knew how to do such as using the toilet, sleeping alone, talking, etc.)
  • Acting out scary events in play
  • Changes to behavior (eg. changes in school performance, increased anger, avoidance or withdrawal, etc.)
  • Increased separation anxiety with care-giver or fear around strangers
  • Nightmares or night terrors

 

If you or someone you love has experienced a trauma and are experiencing symptoms that feel intense, have persisted for more than a month, or are making it difficult to function, you may meet the criteria for PTSD. We recommend you talk to a doctor or a mental health provider to explore your concerns further.

Therapy for PTSD All therapy at Clearview Counselling is trauma informed, We also offer several evidence-based treatments for PTSD including EMDR and ART.

PTSD Therapists

Karlynn Wakulchyk

MC, Registered Provisional Psychologists, Certified Canadian Counsellor

Counselling for children (ages 4 and up), teens, adults, and families

Reem Khawar

MC, Registered Psychologists



Counselling for teens (13+), adults, and couples

Anita Harder

MC, Registered Psychologist ​


Counselling for teens, adults, couples, and families

 

BOOK NOW