Trauma Therapy & Counseling in Farmington, CT
Symptoms of Trauma
Are you frustrated with feeling that you can't seem to move past your past? Did you decide a long time ago that you would just not think about certain things that upset you, even if they seem to keep popping up? Is there some new stress that seems to have brought old, complicated feelings back to the surface? Do you ever think to yourself, "Why can’t I just get over it!?" Perhaps you have chunks of time in your past you don’t remember well or at all. Maybe you suspect something bad has happened in your life, but you can’t quite identify all of what it could be?
If any of this sounds familiar, take a minute here to breathe… that’s right — in through the nose and out through the mouth. Just pause for a minute and know that you're okay for this one moment. Being here right now and reading this page may cause you to feel stressed or emotional in some way. I know, it’s hard. I also know you want to be here. So go slow. Take your time. Continue to read on or come back to this page when you feel ready. I’ll still be here.
​Sometimes anxiety and depression are the resulting feelings of a history of trauma and stress. Some of us have had some bad experiences in our past that cause us to feel ashamed, unnerved, even to keep it secret from others. These memories can come back up in our minds in the form of disturbing recollections of images, thoughts, and conversations — repeatedly, over time.
Types of Trauma
Trauma and stress can range in the severity of how they affect your life. Maybe something specific triggers you toward a downward spiral, but you usually can regroup. Or it could be that your self-esteem and relationships regularly suffer (if you have any of either, at all). Sometimes, your emotions are all over the place or the opposite — you feel mostly numb. These are just some of the issues trauma-informed therapy look at.
Put simply, sometimes we have little "t" trauma that may stem from:
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Bad divorce or breakup
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The loss of a pet
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Dealing with bullying or emotional abuse
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Struggling to recover from injuries or illnesses that have altered your life
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Witnessing an accident or other tragedy
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Other times, we have a big "T" trauma that may have been caused by:
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A violent experience
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Devastating damage resulting from a natural disaster
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Sexual abuse or assault or witnessing these things
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Being involved in a serious accident
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Neglect or abandonment issues from childhood
Regardless of the cause, trauma and extreme stress change our brains and subsequently puts our mental, physical, and emotional well-being in a state of chaos. Sometimes it’s subtle. You get used to living in a constant state of alert, defensiveness, or irritability. Other times, it can be torturous trying to understand and process what you've been through or how to heal from it — even though you know things could be better. Seeking help from an experienced trauma therapist can make all the difference for you.
Why get help?
Negative feelings, behaviors, and the traumatic experiences that caused them can only be pushed down for so long. Eventually, they'll begin to act like a poison until they are healed. Your well-being, relationships, and ability to do life in any functional way will take its toll.
To live your fullest life, you must start to process what happened to you. This may sound scary but think of it as empowering. While seemingly impossible on your own, when you reach out for help, it is possible to heal from past events, feel better, and live more positively in the present.
Choose J Hoffman Therapy | Trauma Therapy Services in Farmington, CT
Certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and hypnotherapy, I can help you retrain your brain to make old memories less triggering and your reactions to them less devastating. At J Hoffman Therapy, I'll listen carefully to your stories and the negative beliefs you have stuck on a loop. I can help you get to the root of what impacts how you feel and behave.
I value the connections I build with each client and believe the healing begins with feeling comfortable with me. Being seen and heard is what helps the healing continue. Having a space to practice different ways of being who you envision benefits you, too. As an experienced trauma therapist, I understand that trauma is often tied to experiences from our past. We can use the best combined approach for your unique needs to help you move forward.
Healing your past can be scary, and moving forward can be too, but when you have support on your side — your best life is within reach .
Reach out now!
Tell me more about your situation, and I'll get back with you as soon as possible.