PTSD Counseling NYC: What To Do When It Feels Like You Can’t “Get Over It”
Trauma hurts. It can produce ongoing sadness, shame, confusion, and deep pessimism about life and relationships. It can feel persistently paralyzing. It’s okay if you aren’t alright. It’s okay if, right now, you are upset and unsure how to feel good again. Why? Because PTSD isn’t a life sentence.
Despite what it feels like right now, you can successfully navigate and overcome your trauma. Your past can take a backseat and your brain can recover and quiet down.
Try to remember, your brain is trying to heal. Determining how to stop, listen, and address your overstimulated mind is key. So, how exactly do you start calming your brain and soothing your trauma?
PTSD counseling and tips like these can help turn things around:
PTSD Counseling NYC: Brain-Soothing Tips for Trauma Recovery
Honor Your Brain. It is part of a system.
It’s easy to compartmentalize when you are hurting. Are you focused on shutting out thoughts or memories, but still can’t find relief? Don’t make your brain work alone.
Your thinking mind is linked to your physical body and your emotional center. Fortunately, all three want to work harmoniously, they are hardwired to be teammates. Thus, they are able to heal and operate optimally if given the chance.
The point here? PTSD is not a life sentence. If you’re willing to pay attention to what’s happening to you, improved awareness can relieve the re-experienced pain and unproductive coping methods you may be employing. Trauma recovery often begins to happen when you can identify the physical and emotional sensations that keep you stuck in counterproductive patterns.
Pay Attention to Your Internal Scripts
After a traumatic experience, some people discover that their thinking brains are confined by beliefs and responses that simply don’t serve them well. Depending on your trauma, controlling behavior, anger, reactivity, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, or risk-taking may have become your default settings.
Overcoming such an agitated state may require a closer look at your past and how you operate because of it. Sometimes we get mentally and emotionally stuck. It is often necessary to reprocess trauma so that you can see the experience and yourself with fresh eyes.
Sometimes journaling is a good first step to identifying unproductive life scripts, patterns, triggers, and key memories that get in your way. However, lasting trauma recovery is often best supported in PTSD counseling with someone who can help you choose the best methods for care.
Tune into Your Body
How does your body currently react, tense, and accommodate the unprocessed trauma and reactivity in your brain? Encourage clarity with close attention to the sensations and physical responses. This is vital for trauma recovery. Learning to employ cleansing breathwork, grounding exercises, and relaxation techniques can help slow down unhelpful automatic reactions and head off anxiety-related health issues. The following techniques can be especially helpful
- abdominal breathing
- mindfulness techniques
- progressive muscle relaxation techniques
In addition, a visit to your primary care provider is important for identifying any trauma-related medical issues that could impede your mental health.
Reach Out to Trustworthy Supporters
Everyone needs help. Just as your brain is part of an internal system, you are meant to survive and thrive in a safe, supportive community. Recovery from trauma is often achieved by acknowledging a need for security and belonging. Health and happiness tend to improve when we share with trusted others and tap into reciprocal care.
The people that care about you want to be there for you. Finding ways to share your internal struggles may end up providing more clarity for you and your loved ones.
Their increased understanding can improve love and honesty between you. This may also can help decrease your self-criticism and other’s judgment. Moreover, loving support can help you put anxiety aside to refocus on the values and goals that keep you energized, and moving forward.
PTSD Counseling NYC: Process the Past & Move On with a Therapist
Ultimately, calm and resilience is the product of more than just your will or your brain. Soothing your brain means tapping into mindful awareness, self-acceptance, and thoughtful attention to your needs. As you become more adept at practicing self-compassion, employing healthy coping skills, and embracing healthy relationships, recovery won’t seem so out of reach.
To get there, it helps to seek the support of an experienced guide. Working with a therapist is an ideal way to increase calm, feel better, and envision a more positive future.
Learn more about PTSD Treatment services for help.
The Relationship Suite
We are a group of skilled therapists, ready when you are. We have the experience to support trauma sufferers. Please read more about PTSD therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and contact us for support soon. You can feel better and live well.
Learn more about our Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment services here.
If you’re struggling, call 917-273-8836 or Contact us for a complimentary consultation to learn more about counseling in NYC and how we can help you.
We are a group of skilled therapists specializing in individual and couples counseling. Since Covid, we have been working with couples via Online Counseling in New York and New York City, including Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester, Long Island, Roslyn, Port Washington, Manhasset, South Hampton, East Hampton, and Montauk. To schedule a complimentary consultation, click HERE.
We also provide Virtual Counseling in New Jersey, Hoboken, Jersey City, Princeton, Chatham, Morris, Westfield, Union, Bergen County, Colts Neck, and Tenafly. Schedule a complimentary consultation by clicking HERE.
