In the Latinx community, it’s not uncommon to neglect your own mental health in favor of your work or family responsibilities—especially when there’s already a negative stigma surrounding mental health. However, when you’re suffering from trauma, the physical and psychological effects can easily become life-consuming, making maintaining those responsibilities overwhelming.
If you’re looking for a therapist specializing in trauma therapy in Chicago, our professional team at Latinx Talk Therapy can help. Contact us online or call (312) 620-7551 to start healing today.
Trauma vs. PTSD
While trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have overlapping symptoms, they’re different.
Trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event that can leave someone feeling hurt, injured, disregarded, or more.
In the case of PTSD—this is a mental health disorder that develops after someone experiences or witnesses trauma. It’s important to note that not all traumatic events will lead to the development of PTSD.
Symptoms of Trauma
Following a traumatic event, untreated trauma can lead to a number of physical, emotional, and psychological symptoms that negatively impact an individual’s quality of life. Some examples include:
- Flashbacks
- Severe Anxiety
- Depression
- Agitation
- Mood swings
- Physical bodily pain
- Loss of appetite
- Difficulty sleeping
- Panic attacks and more.
Therapy Techniques to Treat Trauma
With cultural stigmas that surround mental health, members of the Latinx community often find themselves bottling up their emotions. When you lack the necessary support system, it can be difficult to open up, and over time, feelings of overwhelm or depression will continue to fester. However, there are options available to help you heal from trauma.
Talk Therapy
Talk therapy is a great resource if you’re looking for a way to ease yourself into therapy. Designed to build a comforting atmosphere with no biases or judgments, talk therapy allows patients to discuss their challenges and concerns during one-on-one sessions with an experienced therapist. Together, you and your therapist will identify the goals you want to achieve and take progressive steps to get to that point. The goal is to help you create awareness of your experiences and how they affect you so you can work towards self-empowerment.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
A major key to helping patients work through trauma is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), another form of talk therapy. The use of CBT allows patients to recognize problematic patterns and reframe past experiences in a new, positive light. Oftentimes, people suffering from trauma will have the tendency to avoid their experiences. With CBT, a trauma therapist will help target and face these traumatic moments head-on at a pace that is comfortable for you.
Cognitive Processing Therapy
While CBT focuses on behavioral patterns, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) focuses on how a patient thinks and processes a traumatic event. Reevaluating the way you internalize trauma can help a patient feel less stuck, lost, or confused so they can successfully recover from a traumatic event.
Goal Setting
Just with many other things in life, having obtainable and bite-sized goals makes working through difficult moments in your life much more manageable. Similarly, by setting goals with your trauma therapist at the very beginning, you will have objectives that will help set you forward on a path of long-lasting recovery.
Start Your Journey to Recovery Today
It’s not uncommon to feel alone after suffering from a traumatic event, but it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. At Latinx Talk Therapy, you have a team of trained professionals who understand the cultural stigmas and difficulties surrounding mental health. Contact us online or call (312) 620-7551 to get the support you need.