DO YOU SUFFER FROM THE EFFECTS OF A TRAUMATIC EVENT?
Did you experience or witness a life-threatening, terrifying or horrifying event? Examples are childhood sexual abuse, rape, violent crime, torture, combat, natural disaster or severe accident.
After one of these terrible events, it is common for people to experience a number of symptoms.
These may include nightmares, intrusive memories of the event, feeling very upset when reminded of the event, trying to avoid reminders of it, loss of interest in activities you formerly enjoyed, feeling cut off from other people, feeling emotionally numb, trouble sleeping and concentrating, feeling irritable and being easily startled.
Most people find that these symptoms dissipate within months after the event.
For others, symptoms remain. At their most severe, this group of symptoms is called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and it is a normal reaction to an abnormal situation. PTSD may be associated with other problems, such as depression, substance abuse and disruption of work and family life.
CAN YOU BE HELPED?
HARRY'S PROBLEMS: TRAUMA SYMPTOMS FROM COMBAT AND DEADLY FIRESPTSD can be treated. Cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) and Thought Field Therapy (TFT) are approaches Dr. Agigian uses to help trauma survivors manage and reduce or eliminate their symptoms. For many trauma survivors, medication may also be helpful.
Here are examples of Dr. Agigian's work with trauma survivors.
THE PROBLEMS:
During Harry's 52 years, he had escaped from one deadly fire and seen the charred remains of victims of two others. He was also a combat veteran. A year before seeking help, Harry saw a co-worker at a refinery burned to death.
After this latest trauma, Harry's symptoms increased. They included nightmares and flashbacks about the fires and combat, trouble sleeping, avoiding friends and family and getting into physical fights with other motorists. He became more easily startled, more anxious and depressed, and had trouble concentrating. Harry was beginning to stay in his workshop at home and refusing to go to work.
THE SOLUTION:
Dr. Agigian used Thought Field Therapy (TFT) to reduce trauma-related symptoms. Harry learned breathing retraining to reduce the anger which led to fights. Dr. Agigian saw Harry's family to help them understand Harry's problems, support him and get support for themselves. As the symptoms subsided, Dr. Agigian worked with Harry to restore his relationships with family, friends and co-workers. Dr. Agigian also referred Harry for a medication evaluation.
RESULTS:
The medication improved Harry's sleep and reduced the severity of his symptoms, so that Harry was able to focus on treatment with Dr. Agigian. Harry's distress about the traumas on a scale of 1 to 10 was reduced from 10 to 1. As the symptoms subsided, Harry rebuilt his relationships and work life with support from Dr. Agigian.
ALICE'S PROBLEMS: TRAUMA SYMPTOMS FROM INCEST AND ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS
THE PROBLEMS:
Alice, age 32, was sexually abused by her father once or twice weekly from ages 10 to 15.
She was mistrustful of men but nonetheless tended to become involved with partners who beat her. Alice believed sex was all men wanted and she had nothing else to offer them anyway.
She had just ended another abusive relationship and felt she needed to do something different. Alice suffered PTSD symptoms.
THE SOLUTION:
Dr. Agigian helped Alice understand that her present problems were related to her being raped by her father. Thought Field Therapy (TFT) made it possible for Alice to come to terms with the incest and reduce the distress caused by her traumatic memories.
Dr. Agigian taught Alice how to distinguish which men were trustworthy and improve her ability to select a supportive, non-abusive partner. Using cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) techniques, he also coached Alice in relationship skills, such as effective problem-solving. These skills replaced the behaviors Alice used in the past that had inadvertently invited anger and abuse from her partners.
RESULTS:
Alice's symptoms subsided. Her distress associated with incest and abuse on a scale of 1 to 10 was reduced from 10 to 1. Alice learned that she was not at fault for what had been done to her and that she had much to offer a partner beyond sex.
Alice improved her ability to pick a good partner and ultimately married a warm and loving man. She used her newly learned skills to deal with and recover resiliently from the conflicts that occur in all marriages. There were ups and downs, but over the following years Alice became increasingly happy with her life.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
Contact Dr. Agigian for more information or to arrange for a free 30-minute consultation at (510) 653-7596.
He can also be reached by e-mail at agigian@earthlink.net.