Reclaiming life after a trauma

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The sudden death of a loved one. A life-threatening accident. Abuse or assault. A natural disaster like fire, flood, or an earthquake. More than half of the population in the U.S. will experience at least one of these traumatic and life-altering events.

Trauma typically causes a variety of reactions including fear, guilt, and shame, sleeplessness, nightmares, anxiety, and emotional numbing.

Some people may feel depressed and anxious for months or even years and develop what’s known as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The Anxiety and Depression Association of America says women are twice as likely to develop PTSD as men. Children and adolescents can also suffer from it.

A typical Rogers patient with PTSD:

• Has a history of multiple traumas
• Lacks functioning in an important area of life—home, work, school, social
• Is unable to tolerate outpatient PTSD treatment without resorting to unhelpful coping mechanisms
• Is often depressed and isolated

Concerned you or a loved one may be suffering from the effects of trauma or PTSD? You can take a short, confidential quiz to check your symptoms. 

Clinically proven therapy that can help

A type of therapy called prolonged exposure is recommended by the American Psychological Association as demonstrating the highest level of research support for its efficacy in helping patients process trauma in a way that effectively reduces their symptoms. “We're trying to teach them that even though something feels incredibly real in the moment, you can still recognize that you are safe, and we want to do that with them in the room and then teach them how to do that when they're engaging in the rest of their lives. Patients have found that to be immensely helpful,” says Dr. Chad Wetterneck, licensed clinical psychologist at Rogers Behavioral Health.

Dr. Wetterneck specializes in using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in the treatment of anxiety and PTSD, and says patients need to know at Rogers they are supported in a controlled setting where they actively make choices in their own treatment process.

If you or someone you love may be suffering from PTSD, Rogers offers treatment at several locations throughout Wisconsin, as well as Minneapolis, Minnesota, Skokie, Illinois, and our new outpatient treatment center in Hinsdale, Illinois.