Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic mental health condition that can develop after someone experiences trauma. To understand PTSD, it is essential to understand what qualifies as trauma. The broad definition of trauma is a deeply disturbing or distressing experience that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope. PTSD is complex—it can develop immediately after a traumatic event, or remain dormant until triggered later.
At Women’s Recovery, we are committed to providing comprehensive treatment for women struggling with substance use disorder, mental health challenges, or both. If you’re looking for women’s PTSD treatment in Denver with a trauma-informed approach, there’s Women’s Recovery. We help clients safely work through their trauma and learn to manage PTSD symptoms, so they can regain control of their lives and well-being.
The three types of trauma
Trauma is complicated and frequently misunderstood. Two people with a shared experience can have completely different reactions: one may not have any lasting impacts, while the other is traumatized. How a person reacts is influenced by biology, personality, gender, support system, and overall mental and physical health.
Developing a comprehensive and unique treatment plan begins with understanding the type of trauma that someone is experiencing:
Acute trauma
Acute trauma stems from a single traumatic event, like a natural disaster, an accident, or being the victim of a crime. The event is significant enough to cause a person to fear for their safety, threaten their psychological security, and create a lasting impression in their mind. Acute trauma can influence a person’s thinking and behavior.
Chronic trauma
Chronic trauma refers to experiencing long-term or prolonged distressing events over an extended period. Examples of chronic trauma include bullying, neglect, domestic violence, and exposure to extreme situations, like living in a war zone. Experiencing multiple acute traumatic experiences can lead to chronic trauma. Chronic trauma symptoms are profoundly distressing and often take a long time to surface because the brain represses memories as a protective measure.
Complex trauma
Complex trauma is the result of varied and multiple traumatic events that are intrusive and usually happen within interpersonal relationships. Examples of complex trauma include incest, human trafficking, and sustained abuse and neglect. People exposed to complex trauma often feel trapped and experience far-reaching, severe physical and psychological effects.
The type of trauma a person experiences influences the severity of symptoms and treatment approach.
Can a person with PTSD live a normal life?
PTSD can significantly impact a person’s feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, which can, in turn, affect their quality of life. When left untreated, the symptoms of PTSD can worsen and become more disruptive to daily functioning. However, PTSD is highly treatable, and learning to manage symptoms is possible with treatment.
In approaching PTSD treatment, it is essential to remember that recovery is an ongoing process and is not linear, meaning that setbacks and plateaus are to be expected. It is important not to view setbacks as failures but as opportunities to reevaluate treatment goals and strategies.
Additionally, “normal” does not mean never experiencing challenges or struggles. Instead, it involves coping with them healthily so that you can thrive and lead a meaningful life.
How to treat PTSD in women
With so many factors at play, including the type of trauma someone is experiencing, determining how to treat PTSD in women requires professional support. An individualized treatment plan is essential. At Women’s Recovery, trauma-informed therapy serves as the foundation for our PTSD treatment program.
Trauma-informed therapy is an approach that recognizes the impact of trauma on a person’s mind, body, and everyday life. Rather than focusing on symptoms, trauma-informed therapy emphasizes safety, trust, personal empowerment, and recognition of how trauma has impacted a person’s emotions and behaviors.
What is typically the best treatment for PTSD? At Women’s Recovery, the evidence-based therapies we rely on include:
- Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT): Combines cognitive restructuring with trauma processing and emotional regulation to replace unhelpful ways of thinking and behaving with healthier ones
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): Uses bilateral stimulation, like eye movements and tapping, while talking about trauma to help the brain reprocess trauma and reduce the emotional intensity related to it
- Neurofeedback therapy: Monitors brainwave activity to restore balance to areas of the brain that are disrupted by PTSD, reducing symptoms related to hyperarousal and emotional dysregulation
- Mindfulness-based therapies: Helps people with PTSD remain present and grounded through practices like meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises
- Group therapy: Allows clients with shared experiences to give and receive support, practice empathy, build communication skills, foster trust, and make meaningful connections with peers
At Women’s Recovery, we take the time to understand each client’s unique needs and circumstances to develop a course of treatment best suited to their recovery goals. We know that gender-specific care is vital to helping women feel safe, particularly when their trauma is rooted in sexual abuse and domestic violence.
Visit the women’s PTSD center in Denver at Women’s Recovery
Most people will experience trauma in their lifetime. While not everyone develops PTSD, it is not uncommon, especially among women who are more likely to experience trauma related to physical, psychological, and sexual abuse.
Women’s Recovery is dedicated to providing gender-specific PTSD treatment in an environment that promotes a sense of safety, security, and connection. Unresolved trauma can devastate lives, but it doesn’t have to. Contact Women’s Recovery online or call 833.754.0554 to learn about our flexible outpatient PTSD treatment options and enroll in a program today.
