PTSD

Trigger Warning: this page consists of information about trauma, which includes words describing trauma symptoms, responses, and situations that may trigger emotions, flashbacks, reactivity, or evoke discomfort

What is Trauma?

Trauma or psychological trauma can be defined as the wounded symptoms developed after a perceived life-threatening or safety-threatening experience, including emotionally overwhelming events. Trauma, whether it stems from a single event or a series of incidents, can manifest in various ways, such as complex trauma or trauma bonding. Left unhealed, trauma wounds can continue to impact us long after the incident, perpetuating some of the most painful parts of our inner world.

An incident that may be traumatic for one person might not be traumatic for another.
A series of seemingly minor incidents can accumulate across a lifetime or even generations, creating generational trauma or compounding the effects of intergenerational trauma.
A person may be prone to retraumatization when faced with another threatening situation in the future.
Past trauma experiences can also influence alcohol and substance use, eating disorders, self-harm, depression, risky sexual behaviors, and even PTSD.
Trauma-informed care approaches acknowledge these experiences, focusing on the individual’s trauma response and creating safe environments to heal.

Virtual Session

$150

60 minutes

50 min. of Counselling + 10 min. Clinical Notes

Virtual Session

$235

90 minutes

80 min. of Counselling + 10 min. Clinical Notes

In-Person Session

$160

60 minutes

50 min. of Counselling + 10 min. Clinical Notes

In-Person Session

$245

90 minutes

80 min. of Counselling + 10 min. Clinical Notes

Examples of Traumatic Events

Traditionally, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was researched in connection with people returning from war or having experiences of horrific events. As we deepened our understanding of PTSD and trauma, the list of traumatic events has grown to also include less obvious causes. Here are a few examples.

Obvious Causes of Trauma

Natural disasters
Accidents and near-miss
Torture
Catastrophic injuries
War, combat, refugeeism
Assault and battery
Oppression and discrimination
Rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation
Sexual, physical or emotional abuse
Acts of terrorism

Less Obvious Causes of Trauma

Unmet basic needs (shelter, clothing, food)
Death or illness of loved ones
Infidelity and being cheated on
Incarceration of loved ones
Suicide and self-harm
Destructive conflicts
Narcissistic abuse
Miscarriage, birth stress and giving birth
Bullying, criticisms, and belittling
Being teased or intentionally left out
Trauma bonding with people

Common Causes of Childhood Trauma

Children can be overwhelmed by what adults think of as everyday events or incidents that are “not a big deal”. This is why we need to watch out for these signs of traumatic stress in children to prevent long-term impacts: excessive fearfulness or anxiousness, crying or screaming a lot, loss of appetite/weight, nightmares or difficulty sleeping, guilt / shame, or can’t concentrate in school.

Parent-Child Relationships

Neglect, rejection, or abandonment
Unloving, unsupportive, or highly-critical parent
Being a “therapist” or “best friend” to a parent
Mediating conflicts for parents
Taking on parental duties at home
Parent with addiction
Parent with poor mental health or emotional regulation
Corporal (physical) punishments
Harsh parenting

Family Relationships

Households with shouting and yelling
Domestic or intimate partner violence
New sibling or step-families
Difficult or disrespectful in-laws or extended family
Rigid family roles or traditional gender roles
Moving to a new place (immigration)
High conflicts, estrangement, and divorce
Living in the shadow of a sibling
Narcissistic abuse
Rejection (“not good enough”)

Experiences like these contribute significantly to childhood trauma, making it essential to address the emotional needs of children early on. Tests like the childhood trauma test may help identify the impact of such experiences.

Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

It is common for those who have experienced trauma to have negative beliefs that impact their mental health, such as thoughts like “no one cares,” “no one can be trusted,” “I’m never safe,” “nothing matters,” “I’m not worth protecting,” and “I will never be okay again.” These are the main aspects of PTSD symptoms, and they can vary in frequency and severity depending on each case.

Intrusive Re-experiencing

Uncontrollable and repeating thoughts and memories
Distressful sleep and dreams
Intrusive flashbacks to the traumatic event
Re-experiencing the traumatic emotions

Avoidance

Avoid triggering of distressing memories and emotions
Avoid certain people, places, activities, objects and situations
Avoid remembering or thinking about the event
Resist sharing what happened and what was felt

Alterations in Cognition

Trouble remembering important aspects of the trauma
Problems with concentration and focus
Distorted beliefs about oneself and others
Hurtful blaming of self or others for the cause or consequences of the trauma

Alterations in Mood

Persistent fearfulness (horror), anger (frustration and rage) and guilt (shame)
Loss of interest in activities that were enjoyable
Feeling empty, detached or distant from others
Inability to experience positive emotions (joy or satisfaction)

Alterations in Arousal and Reactivity

Emotional reactivity and dysregulation
Irritability and angry outbursts
Impulsive behaviours, including self-destructiveness
Hypervigilance of surroundings and easily startled

These PTSD symptoms, including complex PTSD or C-PTSD, can be distressing, but with proper support and PTSD treatment, individuals can work towards recovery and better mental health.

What are the types of PTSD?

Here are the differences between PTSD, Complex PTSD (C-PTSD), and Subclinical PTSD.

Subclinical PTSD involves experiencing some symptoms of PTSD, but these symptoms may not be present all the time. Individuals with subclinical PTSD might have some symptoms but not others, or their symptoms may not significantly impact their life functioning.
A long-term or repeated exposure to traumatic events, more extensive than typical PTSD, may result in Complex Trauma, which is often referred to as Complex-PTSD (C-PTSD).
C-PTSD presents with chronic or extensive symptoms of emotional dysregulation, a poor sense of self or identity, and interpersonal difficulties.
Complex PTSD (CPTSD) shares several similarities in symptoms with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), including impulsivity, feelings of worthlessness, and challenges in forming lasting relationships.

4 Types of Trauma Responses

Our trauma responses are short-term survival counteractions when we are faced with heightened stress. Surviving trauma can shift how we perceive risk through hypervigilance (relentlessly monitoring for potential attacks). These responses can impact our day-to-day lives and relationships with others and ourselves. Here are some signs that your trauma response may need healing with psychotherapy.

Fight

Responses

Confrontational and offensive with combative responses, including bullying
Narcissistic tendencies or egocentric tendencies, such as feelings of entitlement
Demanding perfection or enforcing control over situations
Always on high alert, protective, and ready to fight
Aggression, quick to anger, or intense rage (yelling)
Use of hurtful words or behaviours to gain control
Highly judgemental, critical, and argumentative
Self-criticisms and criticism of others

Flight

Responses

Escape or build a wall from confrontations, such as leaving the room
Avoidance of threat by nonconfrontation
Needing to stay busy all the time, such as workaholism
Overthinking, anxiety, and hyperactivity
Use of substances or activities (sex, porn, gaming, phone use) to avoid emotions
Hyper-Independence (self-reliance as depending on others isn’t safe)
Emotional compartmentalization to become numb or nonchalant