PTSD is a serious condition that is estimated to affect more than 8% of individuals at some point in their life. This number is much higher for people whose jobs involve repeated exposure to potentially traumatic events. Individuals who experience this condition often need support from a professional for their recovery.
PTSD starts when someone is involved in, witnesses, or is told about an overwhelmingly distressing event. This can include actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence.
You experience unwanted dreams or memories of the traumatic event, and/or sometimes feel as if you are living through it again. You have intense reactions to situations that have some similarity to the traumatic event.
You find yourself avoiding people, places, objects, activities, and even memories and thoughts that remind you of the traumatic event.
You may have difficulty remembering some of the traumatic event, and have persistent negative thoughts (for example, "the world is not safe"). You might be experiencing distressing emotions and have difficulty finding happiness or connecting with others.
You might find yourself irritable or angry much more often than usual. You startle easily and have difficulty relaxing, especially in busy places. You have difficulty concentrating and sleeping.
Experiencing these symptoms, you probably find it much more difficult navigating daily life. Work or school can be very challenging, and relationships can suffer.
At Slopek Psychology, the primary type of therapy for treatment of PTSD is called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). This is a modern and proven method for treating psychological trauma that uses rapid eye movements to facilitate healing. The eye movements allow the brain to process past events in a way that is more helpful, leading to reduced symptoms when reminders of those events come up now.
Learn more about how treatment can benefit you with a free 15-minute phone consult.
Copyright © 2026 Slopek Psychology - All Rights Reserved.
