When someone experiences sexual assault, their world can feel like it’s been turned upside down. The impact reaches far beyond the event itself, often leaving survivors feeling isolated, confused, and wondering if they’ll ever feel like themselves again. As the founder of Thrive Therapy and a therapist who’s specialized in trauma recovery for nearly two … Read more
Recognizing the need for trauma-focused treatment can be overwhelming. As you research, you will see that there are different options available to you. Here at Thrive, we are only concerned with providing evidence-based, results-focused treatments to help you minimize trauma-related symptoms and get to living life how you’d like to be living it. Trauma Affects … Read more
Losing a loved one to suicide is an incredibly painful experience. It can leave lasting wounds on the heart and mind. We understand that the journey through such complex grief is unique for everyone. Seeking treatment can be a vital step in the healing process. It’s important to recognize that there is no specific timeline … Read more
Over the years, as a trauma therapist, I’ve worked with many patients who’ve lost a loved one to suicide. Losing a loved one is one of life’s most profound and painful experiences. When that loss occurs due to suicide, the grieving process can become even more complex and challenging. Today we will explore the common … Read more
Today’s world is more interconnected than it has ever been. Social media platforms have become a hub for sharing experiences, personal stories, and even mental health struggles. While it’s essential to promote open conversations about mental health, self-diagnosing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) based on social media posts can be misleading and potentially harmful. Today, we’ll … Read more
The words “sexual assault” can feel very heavy, removed, and clinical. Boiled down, it is any unwanted sexual activity against a person without their consent. It includes a wide range of actions, including unwanted touching, kissing, penetration, and other forms of sexual contact. This is almost always accompanied by intimidation, coercion, or force. This is … Read more
Yes, you- the one who has trained hard and works tirelessly in a job most could never do. There is no question that you serve your community with everything you can. But where do you go after a tough run or shift? What happens then? First responders have a higher likelihood of developing PTSD. Don’t suffer alone, effective treatments are available. Read here about PTSD, first responders, and how you can take care of yourself so that you can keep helping others.
Some of the traumatic things you were exposed to probably got better over time, however sometimes there can be events you don’t recover from as expected. Instead, you may feel stuck. You may even go on to develop PTSD. Being a combat vet you were trained to be ready for the unexpected. When the unexpected happened, your training kicked in and you did your job to the best of your ability often without even thinking. But what do you do when the unexpected injured you or one of your brothers? Or took their life? There’s not really any good place to process this stuff while in combat- it’s onto the next mission. While this makes sense to keep you focused, it takes it’s toll over time. You stuff it down, and keep going because that is what you have to do.
Here’s the thing: surviving a sexual assault, maybe a rape, or attempted rape, or other means of sexual violence increases your likelihood of developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. What this means is those past experiences are negatively impacting your day-to-day life and preventing you from being able to live how you’d like to.
The good news? PTSD is treatable. Yes, you heard me right. No, we can’t delete the bad things that have happened. However, what we can do is control how much those past events impact your life now and your life in the future. There are effective treatments available for you to help you to find hope and get back to living life instead of avoiding it.
PTSD and Avoidance One of the topics that comes up often in PTSD is this idea of avoidance. Avoidance is the conscious or unconscious effort to push away painful thoughts, memories, and emotions, or to avoid people, places, or things that may remind you of past trauma. This makes sense right? If something is painful … Read more