Alexis
Pagomenos
Psychology
Trauma & PTSD
Therapy in Brisbane
Does It Feel Like What Happened to You Is Still Affecting Your Life Today?
Sometimes, even when something difficult or traumatic is in the past, it doesn't necessarily feel that way.
You might find yourself reacting to things in ways you don't quite understand, feeling constantly on edge or struggling to move forward from experiences you'd rather leave behind.
_edited.jpg)
Perhaps you've tried to put things behind you, tell yourself it was a long time ago or get on with life, but something still doesn't feel right.
You might recognise some of these experiences:
-
Finding yourself replaying memories of what happened, or experiencing unwanted thoughts, images or nightmares that bring you back to that time.
-
Certain people, places, situations or conversations might trigger intense feelings or remind you of what you've been through.
-
Feeling constantly on guard, easily startled or like you always need to be prepared for something bad to happen.
-
Avoiding certain situations, conversations or experiences because they bring up uncomfortable memories or feelings.
-
Struggling to feel close to others, trust people or experience emotions in the way you used to.
You might also find yourself feeling disconnected, emotionally numb or frustrated that something from your past continues to affect how you feel in the present.
What Does Living with Trauma Feel Like?
Living with the effects of trauma can be exhausting.
You might find yourself constantly scanning your surroundings, anticipating potential problems or feeling uncomfortable in situations that other people seem to find perfectly ordinary. Even when you're physically safe, your body might react as though something bad is about to happen.
You might try to avoid reminders of what happened, keep yourself busy so you don't have to think about it or push away feelings that seem too difficult to deal with. Sometimes, memories or reminders can appear unexpectedly, leaving you feeling overwhelmed or disconnected from what's happening around you.
These experiences can affect your relationships, work, sleep and ability to enjoy everyday life. You might feel frustrated that you can't simply move on, or wonder why something that happened in the past still has such a hold on you.
You're Not Alone in This
Experiencing trauma can have a significant impact on the way you think, feel and respond to the world around you. People can develop many ways of coping to keep themselves safe after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, but sometimes these can keep us stuck feeling like we are still in danger.
Sometimes, the people around you might not understand why certain things are difficult or why you react the way you do. You might feel like you should be over it by now, particularly if the experience happened a long time ago.
But trauma isn't something you can simply switch off or move on from by trying harder.
You deserve support, and you don't have to navigate the effects of trauma on your own.
Feeling Safer and More in Control of Your Life Is Possible
When you've experienced trauma, it can feel like your past continues to influence your present. You might find yourself organising your life around avoiding reminders, trying to control your surroundings or keeping difficult thoughts and feelings at a distance.
These responses often develop as ways of protecting yourself from further harm, or avoiding uncomfortable feelings. While they might make sense given what you've experienced, they can sometimes keep your nervous system activating to keep you safe, even when you're not in danger, and make it difficult to connect with the things and people that matter to you.
The good news is that the way you respond to the symptoms of trauma can change, and with time your nervous system can learn to activate in a helpful way (to keep you safe).
I aim to provide a warm, supportive and non-judgemental space where you can begin to understand your experiences and work towards feeling more comfortable in your everyday life.
Therapy can help you make sense of the ways trauma is affecting you, develop different ways of responding to difficult thoughts and feelings, and gradually reduce the impact that past experiences have on your present.
Importantly, therapy isn't about forcing yourself to forget what happened or pretending it didn't affect you. It's about helping you process your experiences in a safe and supported way, so they no longer have to play such a significant role in how you live your life.
You don't have to feel completely free of difficult memories to move forward. The goal is to feel safer, more connected and more in control of the life you're living now.
What Will Trauma Therapy look like?
Starting therapy can feel particularly daunting if you've experienced trauma. You might worry about having to talk about things you'd rather not revisit or feel unsure about whether you're ready.
My aim is to create a space where you feel comfortable and safe to share your experiences, thoughts, and feelings without any judgment, criticism or blame.
Many people who have experienced trauma have had experiences of being shut-down, not believed or made to feel guilty when discussing what they have experienced. I understand that it takes time to feel comfortable to open up, to share these vulnerable parts of ourselves. That's why we take time to build rapport, and to move at your pace.
In our first session, we'll spend time understanding what brings you to therapy, how you're currently feeling and how your experiences are affecting your everyday life.
You don't need to share every detail of what happened, and there's no expectation that you need to talk about anything before you're ready.
We'll also explore what you'd like to get out of therapy and what feeling better might look like for you.
Next, we'll explore the thoughts, feelings and behaviours that might have developed in response to your experiences. This could include feeling constantly on edge, avoiding reminders, struggling with trust, experiencing unwanted memories or finding it difficult to manage strong emotions.
Understanding these responses can help you make sense of what's happening and recognise that many of these reactions developed as ways of trying to protect yourself.
We'll work on developing practical strategies to help you manage difficult emotions, feel more grounded and respond differently when reminders of the past arise.
Progress looks different for everyone. It might mean feeling less overwhelmed by reminders of the past, sleeping better, feeling more comfortable in relationships, being less on guard or being able to participate in activities you've previously avoided.
I work to make therapy individualised to you. We'll work at a pace that you feel is achievable, and focus on the change that is important to you.
You May Have Some Concerns. That's Okay.
What if I'm not ready to talk about what happened?
That's completely okay. You don't need to share every detail of your experiences, particularly when you're first starting therapy. We can begin by understanding how you're feeling now, what's been difficult and what might help you feel more comfortable. Building trust and establishing a sense of safety are important parts of the process.
What if what happened to me wasn't traumatic enough to need therapy?
There isn't a competition when it comes to difficult experiences. You don't need to compare what you've been through with anyone else's experiences or justify why you're struggling. If something has affected you and is making it difficult to live the life you want, it's okay to seek support.
What if I've been struggling with this for years?
You might feel like it's too late to make changes, particularly if you've been experiencing the effects of trauma for a long time. However, it's never too late to explore different ways of responding to difficult experiences. Therapy can help you understand what's been keeping you stuck and work towards meaningful changes, regardless of how long ago something happened.
Do I have to commit to ongoing therapy after reaching out?
Not at all! There's absolutely no pressure to book a session afterwards. Reaching out to our reception team is simply an opportunity for you to see whether we might be a good fit, and for you to understand how therapy could help.
How do I take the next step?
If you've been finding it difficult to move forward from past experiences, or feel like the effects of trauma are continuing to influence your everyday life, you don't have to keep trying to manage everything on your own.
You don't need to wait until things become overwhelming to reach out. I'd love to hear about what you've been experiencing and talk with you about what working together might look like.
Contact us today. There's no pressure or obligation to book a therapy session afterwards.
Get In Touch
Ready to take the next step? I am ready when you are.
Contact Information
I work as part of the team at My Psych Clinic, in Eight Mile Plains.
Get in touch with our friendly reception team to book a session or answer any questions.
Level 1 Building 10/107 Miles Platting Rd, Eight Mile Plains QLD 4113
Please note that I am unable to respond to emergency or crisis situations. If you, or someone else, requires immediate emergency support, please contact emergency services on 000, Lifeline (24 hr service) on 13 11 14, Mental Health Access Line (24 hr service) on 1300 64 22 55, 13YARN - 13 92 76, or visit your nearest hospital emergency department.
