What is trauma? Traumatic events are unexpected, unpleasant and significant life experiences. Trauma is not the event. Trauma is the body’s natural response to an unnatural event. When a traumatic event takes place, the central nervous system is overwhelmed, shocked and becomes dysregulated. This dysregulation can create symptoms such as - fear, panic, fatigue, confusion, irritability, - obsession with safety or danger - anxiety and/or depression - flashbacks, nightmares - physical pain, headaches, trouble sleeping We need to focus on the central nervous system to relieve these symptoms. Image from: https://healthjournal254.com
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What to do next Coverage through: - ICBC - Victims Services (RCMP) - Kamloops Indian Band - Some benefits packages from Great West Life, Blue Cross & Sun Life Financial Feel free to call Kelsey and she can try and help you with this process. What to expect Kelsey uses a holistic and client centred approach. She blends psychoeducation, CBT, ACT, Mindfulness, and RBT. Kelsey is also trained in Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a treatment r e c o m m e n d e d b y t h e Wo r l d H e a l t h Organization to help people process trauma.
Call for a free consultation: 1877-325-7484 healingspaceskamloops@gmail.com www.healingspaceskamloops.com
POST TRAUMATIC STRESS AND YOUR HEALTH Kelsey Grimm, MAL, MACP Registered Clinical Counsellor 1-877-325-7484 www.healingspaceskamloops.com
The brain doesn’t know the difference between physical and emotional pain. - Gabor Mate Symptom management and deeper healing Kelsey believes bringing people back to balance and well-being requires a two-pronged approach.
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how does trauma impact my body and my mind?
SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT looks at your immediate circumstances. How are you managing day-to-day. What symptoms are you noticing day-to-day? What tools can you learn to help manage your discomfort? DEEPER HEALING looks at helping you process the event you have experienced. Once you have a sense of stability, we can begin trauma counselling.
When one experiences a threatening event, such as a traumatic event, the brain responds responds with FIGHT, FLIGHT, or FREEZE response. (Trauma Response) It may sense danger or threats everywhere. This may cause your body and mind to react to anything that resembles a similar threat. This is your body’s way of alerting you to a perceived threat.
A note on stigma When one is highly stressed, their immune system is lowered and they are at a higher risk of contracting a virus. This same thought can be applied to post-traumatic stress. When one experiences an acutely stressful event, their central nervous system is impacted and they are at a higher likelihood to experience various mental health symptoms. There are many reasons why people respond differently to traumatic events and are impacted differently. Some of these reasons are connected to one’s biology, lived experiences, and environmental exposures. It takes self-awareness to know when one has reached their limits. It takes courage to reach out for support than pretend that everything is simply ‘fine’.
bio-psycho-social Model This model understands that people are whole beings. When one aspect of a person is impact the whole of them is impacted. This means, if one’s body is injured, their psyche is also impacted. If one’s social experiences change (such as time away from work), their biology will change. When we look at ourselves as whole beings, we can better understand our way back to balance, health, and wellbeing. Image from: https://pangnacea.wordpress.com