Trauma and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Give yourself time to heal;
• Ask for support from people who care about you;
• Find out about local support groups—we can help;
• Try to have a healthy diet and get plenty of rest;
• Avoid drugs and alcohol;
• Try to re-establish your regular routines like mealtimes, exercise, hobbies, and fun activities and;
• Try to avoid making major decisions at this time—this will add more stress

“What if it has been a while since the traumatic event and I'm not getting better? What if my symptoms are more intense than what was just described?” You may be experiencing Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). People with PTSD may have few or many of the following symptoms:

• You may have intrusive thoughts, feelings, or images about the event. No matter how hard you try, you can't make it stop.
• You may have flashbacks or nightmares where you feel you are reliving the event. Flashbacks involve a person perceiving him or herself to be in the traumatic situation. An example of this would be a crime victim acting as if he or she is fighting off attackers.
• You may become extremely distressed when something reminds you of the event. A sight, sound or smell can activate memories. For example, getting into a car can be extremely distressing for the victim of a car wreck.
• You may feel extremely on-guard or in danger. You may startle very easily and may be jumpy.
• You may avoid thoughts, feelings or conversation about the traumatic event.
• You may avoid people, places, and/or activities that remind you of the event. For example, crime victims may want to avoid the place where they were attacked.
• You may not feel like participating in your usual activities.
• You may not feel connected to people. You may avoid socializing. It may be difficult to trust people.
• You may feel numb, and may not feel emotions like you used to.
• People with PTSD may experience other psychological difficulties along with the PTSD. These other psychological problems may include depression, anxiety disorders, panic disorder, eating disorders and alcohol/substance abuse.

Concerns related to trauma occur on a continuum, may change over time, and can vary from person to person. Due to the often complex nature of trauma, thorough assessment and treatment recommendations are required to insure an individual receives the most beneficial, ethical, and appropriate care for their particular needs. Best practices for the treatment of trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder indicate that recovery is a process and occurs in three phases: Safety and Stabilization, Remembrance and Mourning, and Reconnection and Integration. Trauma survivors may seek counseling at any stage in the recovery process. The Loyola University Counseling Center is able to provide assessment and short-term individual counseling for students whose symptoms following a trauma (either recent or past) are mild to moderate. This may include connecting students with additional campus or local resources, if requested by the student. Consistent with our short-term model, the Counseling Center is unable, however, to provide the full continuum of care to treat individuals struggling with a more significant trauma response or prolonged Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Concerns or symptoms that may warrant referral to off-campus treatment providers (either from the start of treatment or following a period of short-term counseling at the Counseling Center) may include:

• Need for sessions more than 1x/week or over an extended time period
• History of multiple traumatic experiences
• Dissociative episodes
• Prolonged depersonalization/derealization
• Chronic suicidal ideation
• Co-occurring severe depression, anxiety, or other mental health concern
• Co-occurring substance abuse

The Counseling Center recognizes that discussing trauma can be difficult and we strive to create an environment of sensitivity, safety and trust. If treatment with an off-campus provider is recommended, the counselor will partner with the student to identify the most appropriate provider and coordinate care with the new provider while the student transitions their treatment. Access to the Counseling Center for an emergency meeting, and assistance with navigating on or off-campus resources remains available to all students throughout their college career, regardless of whether they have been referred to an off-campus provider for on-going treatment.