trauma Archives - Freedom Psychiatry

Your morning alarm blares from the night stand next to as you scramble to turn it off. It’s the beginning of a new day and immediately your mind races with thoughts of meetings, deadlines, and “to-dos”. Notifications from Twitter, Facebook, and your E-mail come flooding in only to add to your tension.

It’s only 6am and you’re overwhelmed…sound familiar?

For many people, this routine is normal.

Thanks to technology and our inability to disconnect, it feels like there’s no break from stress. We’ve come to accept stress as
part of our culture. In fact, some people wear it like a badge of pride because stressed out people are successful, hard-working people-right?

Maybe. But, you don’t have to let stress lead you down the path to exhaustion and mental burnout in order to be successful. Even though stress might seem harmless, it can have a big impact on your health and wellness.

Some stress is good stress.

Stress has been a part of life since the dawn of time-literally! Our human ancestors developed the fight-or-flight response for safety. They used it to escape danger or fight off predators. It was, as the name suggested, associated with survival situations where you could fight or flight.

We all still have the fight or flight response. It’s part of what keeps us safe from dangers even today. It’s through the release of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, the ‘fight or flight’ response has rapid effects on multiple bodily systems. Increased heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, sweat, and loss of focus are just a few physical symptoms.

These symptoms are usually temporary and sometimes essential for our wellbeing. What if you accidentally walked into a cross walk and a car zoomed by? You might experience all of the physical symptoms because of the hormone release, but you jumped back (without thinking) because of your flight-or-fight response. This type of temporary stress is normal and is not considered an illness.

How much stress is too much?

When your stress response becomes prolonged (or chronic), it has a much different effect on your body. Consequently, long-term stress can negatively impact your physical and mental health. Chronic stress has been linked to increased heart rate, high blood pressure,forgetfulness, weight gain, and a variety of other negative conditions. Unfortunately, people who experience long-term stress are more likely to experience increased anxiety and depression. Stress can impact the way you deal with emotions and behaviors.

PTSD and Stress

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can occur in people who’ve experience a traumatic event. PTSD can cause stress, anxiety, and the build up of many other physical and mental health conditions.

One small exposure to trauma can lead to PTSD.

Something that might seem like a “small trauma” to one person could lead to PTSD in another. This is why it’s essential to receive a personal evaluation so you can get on the road to wellness.

Dr. Madaram is here to help you navigate life’s challenges. He takes a holistic approach to healing that will help you manage stress in your life. Call today!

Is trauma really about personal resilience?

How much vs. how little exposure?

Are some people just stronger than others in the wake of trauma?

Understanding Small Ts and Large Ts

The truth is, someone doesn’t have to experience an overly distressing event in order for it to affect them deeply. In fact, the build up of smaller, everyday experiences can really take a toll. Trauma, whether big or small, can linger and affect your everyday life.

The “Large Ts” are usually the experiences most people think about when it comes to trauma. Military combat, sexual abuse, and natural disasters are commonly fall under the category of “Large Ts”. These types of trauma are the ones often associated with PTSD and leave people feeling powerless.

On the other hand, “Small Ts” can also interfere with your mental wellness. They too can disrupt emotional functioning and cause people to feel depressed and hopeless. Small traumas include situations such as family conflicts to financial stress, or divorce/ infidelity. Small traumas can accumulate and take an even bigger toll over time.

Who Gets PTSD & Who Doesn’t?

PTSD is a complex diagnosis. Trauma affects people differently. Factors like your past, perception of the event, and personal tolerance all matter. Also, not all combat service members are diagnosed with PTSD. The difference between developing trauma-related symptoms (or not) also has to do with how individuals process the trauma. Avoidance can lead to PTSD which is why it’s so important to heal.

Whether large or small, the way you perceive trauma is not a sign of weakness. Your journey to healing starts with self-love and acceptance. Dr. Madaram has a special interest in military personnel and veterans who suffer with depression, anxiety, PTSD and other disorders that interfere with their lives. He’s here to help you heal from all types of trauma in order to live your best life. Call today 919-802-1417

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that develops in those who’ve experienced trauma, a dramatic situation, or dangerous event. It’s natural to feel scared, shocked, and anxious after a traumatic event. In fact, the body’s ‘flight-or-flight’ response is meant to protect a person from harm.

There’s a wide range of reaction to trauma.

A lot of people recover from trauma naturally but, for those who don’t, PTSD might develop. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misconceptions surrounding PTSD and those who suffer. Here’s what you need to know.

Time Heals All

Trauma Trauma can linger for decades beyond the initial experience. It can interfere with your daily life and growth. For some, untreated trauma can become part of their identity over the years. Someone with symptoms of PTSD should not rely on time as a healing mechanism.

Only The Weak Develop PTSD

This couldn’t be further from the truth. Though it’s unknown why some people develop PTSD and other don’t, inner strength has nothing to do with it. PTSD is a disorder that should be treated by a qualified professional.

I Should Be Able To Control This Alone

Wrong! This type of thinking adds to the stigma surrounding mental health conditions. You wouldn’t hesitate to see a doctor for a broken ankle, and you shouldn’t hesitate to get help for PTSD either.

Certain groups are more reluctant to reach out than others-especially men. No one should suffer alone. Dr. Madaram is a member of the military himself. He has a special interest in military personnel and veterans who suffer with depression, anxiety, PTSD and other disorders that interfere with their lives.

Experiencing any sort of trauma can be a life-changing event. If you’ve lost something crucial to your well-being, you can’t often tell what the outcome will be. Sometimes losses can be caused by a disorder that drives you to do things you wouldn’t normally do.

And when that happens, you can feel pretty helpless and powerless.

Trauma recovery can be a challenge, but with the right support, there are ways to recover, rebuild, and move forward with your life.

Start By Labeling Your Feelings

When you feel powerless, you feel afraid to express your needs because you fear that even more will be taken from you. When you start the path to recovery, small steps can have a BIG impact. Put one foot in front of the other each day. Start by talking about how you feel and why. When you identify and engage in your emotions, you can slowly start to take positive action.

Develop The Right Mindset

As you try to move away from trauma, having the right mindset is essential to recovery. Find ways to help you stay present. Try to live in the moment. Develop an attitude of gratitude to help you find the good in each day. This can help slowly build up your self-esteem and confidence.

Healing after trauma starts with believing in yourself and the potential you have. Let Dr. Madarm take of of the “hows” of recovery at Freedom Psychiatry.

Dr. Madaram offers adult and pediatric trauma treatment to help you find ways to recover. Through talking therapy modalities like CBT and EMDR, and medicine if needed, he can help you find your footing and overcome PTSD. Everyone has the strength to overcome challenges. Sometimes, you just need a little help to find it.

Let Dr. Madaram get you on the path to healing through finding yourself. Call Today (919) 802-1417

Have you ever experienced something traumatic? An event so incredibly frightening or distressing that its shaken you to your core?

Maybe you’ve served in military combat or survived cancer…or a car crash…

Whatever the cause, trauma is real.

Psychological (or emotional trauma) can change the way you think, the way you feel, and the way you react. Trauma can rewire your brain and present challenges in your daily life. It can leave you feeling broken and depressed. People are not impacted by trauma in the same way. However, there are a few things we know about changes in the brain from trauma.

The Wounds You Can’t See

In some cases, the physical scars of trauma are lifelong, visible reminders. On the other hand, emotional trauma is about what’s happening inside your brain. These scars aren’t always visible, but they are very real.

Trauma: Your Thoughts

Trauma can rewire the way a person thinks. One area associated with thinking is the prefrontal cortex (PFC). It contributes to our rational thought process, problem-solving abilities, and sense of empathy and compassion. It helps us think clearly, make decisions, and create awareness of ourselves and others.

Trauma: Your Emotions

The Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) is partly responsible for regulating our emotions. A non-traumatized brain is able to manage challenging thoughts without being overwhelmed or consumed by them. Trauma affects our emotional regulation abilities.

Trauma: Your Fears

Lastly, the amygdala is another very important part of the brain that’s often affected by trauma. It helps us detect threats and manage reactions. The amygdala in a traumatized brain is active often causing fear, stress, and panic in unwarranted situations.

Hope and Healing

Approximately 50 percent of the population will experience a traumatic event at some point in their lives. Remember, everyone experiences trauma differently. Trauma is not a competition. It is a very personal experience. For that reason, trauma can look completely different from one individual to another.

Everyone has different triggers and levels of stress caused by trauma. Some people will develop PTSD and some won’t. It’s important to remember, in a world full of comparison, that we should not compare our traumas. Feeling guilty because “it was nearly as bad as…” is not part of the healing process.

Your trauma is uniquely yours. It hurts YOU because it is real. Allow yourself to feel…to grieve.

What matters most is healing. Dr. Madaram’s perspective is that everyone has the strength to overcome challenges. Sometimes he needs to help you find it. In fact, sometimes he believes his role is showing you the way to find it yourself.

Freedom Psychiatry Blog

How Much Stress Is Too Much?