How to stop PTSD?

For many people who have experienced adverse events, trauma shows up in their emotional health and physical health in serious ways. Oftentimes, people who experience PTSD feel like their trauma is happening again and again to them.

There are studies that show (through brain scans) that once we are traumatized, our brain is in a constant state of flight, fight or freeze.

There are things you can do help in the moment (listed below), but to get long-lasting relief, therapy is often needed.

If you are experiencing PTSD related symptoms, our trauma therapists here at Long Beach Therapy can provide you with a safe place to process your trauma in order to get your life back.  We believe that the best PTSD therapist is the one who you feel safe with.  If you have been looking for “a PTSD therapist near me”, look no further.  Please call us to set up an appointment to start your healing process.

TIPS to help with PTSD:

Tip 1:

When you are having intense symptoms, recite the day and time to yourself and also things that you see around you. This sends a message to your brain that you are safe and not in the trauma.  If you are not currently safe, go to the police or call a crisis hotline.

Tip 2:

Do some mindful breathing. That means to breathe normally and focus on how your breath feels as your lungs expand or how your breath feels as the air passes through your lips.

Tip 3:

Try to get to a place you feel safe. If you are in public, go sit in a bathroom stall for a minute and try to relax the best you can or go to your car and sit for a minute.

Tip 4:

Tell someone you trust what you have experienced and what they can do to help.

Call a therapist near you who is experienced in PTSD. EMDR and Trauma Focused CBT are both helpful approaches that have shown in research to help PTSD.  At Long Beach Therapy, we are trained in several treatments for PTSD so that you can choose the one that feels right for you.  We also have an office in Long Beach for in person therapy and we also see clients throughout California through online therapy.