Trauma & PTSD

Trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event that is so intense that the brain does not process the event right away. Instead, your mind and body instantly activate a survival mechanism, a “fight or flight” response, to fend off the full impact of the trauma. There are numerous split-second changes to the brain and body to keep you safe from harm. While these changes protect you in the short-term, the event can wreak havoc on your nervous system long-term. While the event has passed, your mind and body may still be responding as though the event is happening right now.

The experience of trauma is stored as fragments of the record, without a cohesive story. This fragmented, unfinished record keeps reappearing (as irritability, numbness, depression, nightmares, isolation, etc) begging to be reprocessed and understood.

People who have been through traumas sometimes seem to have recovered, only to be left with residual, underlying symptoms (such as mistrust, avoidance of close relationships, and numbing). Sometimes these symptoms can last for years and manifest as problems with alcohol, drug use, or avoiding relationships.

If you’re looking for a therapist for trauma or PTSD in Chicago, Tandem Psychology may be the solution for you. We specialize in trauma and are here to help! 

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that occurs when the nervous system is too overwhelmed to properly deal with an experience in the moment. PTSD often comes with feelings of fear and stress that are triggered even when danger is not present.

Complex trauma results in many of the same problems, but results from the trauma being repeated, often within the same situation or relationship. The impact is experienced cumulatively and the effects can be profound.

Trauma can be a response to any situation in which the nervous system is too overwhelmed, which include:

• Death of a loved one
• Witnessing harm done to others
• COVID-19 (or other pandemics)
• Rape or domestic violence
• Emotional or physical abuse
• Bullying
• Child abuse or neglect
• Car accidents
• Coming out or living as LGBT+
• Cumulative microaggressions (due to race, sex, disability, socio-economic statues, etc)

Far too many LGBT and queer people have experienced some kind of religious trauma. Often religious trauma can create unique experiences of confusion and contradiction. The conflict between perceptions of oneself as a moral and good person and sometimes shameful, religious messages about their LGBT identity leads many LGBT people to feel uncertain about themselves and their beliefs. Our trauma therapists can help you untangle beliefs about yourself, your spirituality, your religion, and religious trauma.

Trauma, religious trauma, complex trauma, and PTSD are all too common; so, when is the right time to seek trauma therapy? 

Over 60% of people living in the United States will experience a traumatic event in their life. Those most harshly impacted and susceptible to PTSD likely have a biological vulnerability, but may also have had other experiences with severe stressors causing a cumulative effect on their mental health and capacity to manage stress.

The impact of trauma is particularly severe and long-lasting when it’s caused by another person or when it happens to children, teenagers, and young adults. People attach meaning to traumas caused by others more frequently than traumas caused by natural events, which makes human caused trauma more complex to resolve. Trauma that occurs during the developmental years impacts the evolving views of yourself, others, and the world around you. The beliefs are challenging and should be addressed with the help of a trauma therapist.

While it’s normal to be scared or have anxiety immediately after a terrible event, effects that linger even after the event is gone indicate the need for trauma therapy. Look out for sneaky symptoms of trauma - self doubt, relationship problems, heavy drinking - as these can be harder to recognize, but require therapy.

With the help of a Chicago PTSD therapist, your trauma can be reprocessed and put into context that your nervous system can understand. While the terrible event will never be remembered as positive, it can make sense and exist in the past and not be relived in your day-to-day.

Yes!  Trauma therapy can help!

One of the most common responses to trauma is a cycle of avoidance. It’s common to want to push the traumatic event away or ignore it when resurfaces. You might find yourself suppressing, denying, or distracting with work, activities, drugs, or alcohol. These strategies work briefly, but the unprocessed traumatic event will continue to resurface.  

If you know you’ve experienced trauma, now is the time to get help.

There is no one treatment that is right for everyone dealing with PTSD, complex trauma, or trauma. It’s most important to have a therapist with experience, compassion, and alignment.

Our therapists for trauma are committed to understanding your needs, setting the pace of therapy and goals with you, and creating an individualized plan to help you heal. Some of the most common trauma therapies used are - EMDR, CBT, ACT, IFS, mindfulness-based, psychodynamic, exposure, and relaxation training.

Schedule an appointment for trauma therapy in-person at our Lakeview offices or via telehealth. We'd be honored to help!

If you’re looking for help managing trauma, PTSD, or anxiety, please schedule an in-person appointment at our Lakeview offices or a telehealth appointment to meet virtually. We have a team of exceptionally trained and experienced psychologists, social workers, and clinical counselors ready to help you overcome your trauma.