A thank you to all the first responders and military personnel for what you do. Now, let us help you.
Trauma Therapy for EMTs and Military
Day after day, week after week, you suit up to take on the challenges in this country and abroad. On the daily, you don’t know what will come your way. But you need to be prepared. Yes, there are the major traumas that occur (car accidents, shootings, and intense combat exposure). But on a lower, less conscious level, there is a need to always be ‘on’ in case something arises that’s outside of your control. Being in this state has benefits but also has short and long-term consequences for you and those in your life.
Body’s Response to Stress
It is an evolutionary miracle that our bodies respond to stress and trauma in the way they do. The fight or flight response that most people experience, along with the collapse response, is a subconscious response carried out via our nervous system. And it works. However, when we’re exposed to constant stress, threat, and trauma, our nervous systems can become stuck in certain responses.
Challenges from Trauma and Chronic Stress
As the nervous system becomes stuck and unable to shift into different states, we can experience a range of challenges. This creates challenges because we aren’t able to relax when we need to or meet a threat with an appropriate response. Additionally, when the nervous system is dysregulated (stuck), the body produces large amounts of cortisol and adrenaline, which can impair the body’s immune and digestive system, resulting in illness and gut issues.
Fear of Letting Your Guard Down
When we become so used to being on-edge and tense, it can feel vulnerable and threatening to let one’s guard down. The nervous system is flexible and doesn’t do well when stuck in one state. However, the idea of nervous system regulation is to improve nervous system flexibility and its ability to self-regulate. The on-edge feeling and stress some feel is very adaptative and we need that in life – just not all the time. We also need to be able to relax and enjoy peaceful moments throughout life. Trauma and prolonged stress can impede nervous system regulation and flexibility.
Find Calmness with Therapy Near Racine, WI
The human body is very adaptative. Because of chronic stress and trauma, the body may need a guide to restart the innate healing process we all have. This is why therapy is so important. Through our work together, your nervous system will regain its ability to self-regulate. You won’t lose the ability to feel on edge and/or tense, but it will be more like a flowing river. Sometimes there is a need for tension and edginess (when at work) and then when at home peace and calm are more useful.
EMDR and Somatic Therapy to Foster Healing
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy helps to ignite the body’s own internal healing system called the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) system. This is typically done with side-to-side eye movements or tapping. As you move your eyes or tap the stressful experiences fly by being replaced with healthier ways of thinking and feeling. An EMDR therapist can help to bring back a sense of calm throughout your body.
Somatic Experiencing (SE) therapy works by becoming curious with our body sensations and slowly tracking these as they appear and change. Oftentimes, during stress, we disconnect from our body’s responses. Thus, these responses do not complete within our body’s. When these responses don’t complete, they can create heightened emotions, chronic fatigue, anxiety, and other mental health symptoms.
Trauma Therapist Near Me
We offer in-person trauma therapy sessions for those living in the Southern Milwaukee, Wisconsin area as well as online trauma therapy for those throughout Wisconsin and Colorado. A trauma therapist can help you with many different problems, from releasing built up stress, healing from past and recent traumatic events, to rebuilding self-esteem. If you or someone you know could benefit from EMDR therapy, reach out today to schedule a consultation. You can submit an online form here or call us at 720.295.6703 to start the trauma recovery process.
