Kristy’s road to trauma recovery: “I can overcome this; I can stand up again.”

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It’s estimated about 5 million adults in the U.S. are affected by posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) every year. PTSD can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event like a life-threatening accident, physical or sexual assault, the sudden death of a loved one, combat, a motor vehicle accident, or a natural disaster like a flood or an earthquake.

After Kristy experienced a traumatic event in her life, she found herself struggling—with an eating disorder she didn’t understand and stuck in a revolving door of mental health outpatient clinics. But then she found an effective path to recovery through Rogers.

“That’s where I really found power. I can overcome this; I can stand up again. I can say that I got through something and I don’t have to be afraid,” Kristy shares.

Dr. Chad Wetterneck, licensed clinical psychologist at Rogers, says it’s not uncommon for people suffering from trauma to be in denial. That can lead to PTSD going undetected or being misdiagnosed.

“People who experience trauma often try to counter the feelings of vulnerability and helplessness by establishing other ways to have control over themselves,” he explains. “Some overcontrol eating and exercise and develop an eating disorder; others isolate and restrict formerly desired activities and become depressed; many try to dull the memory or anxiety with substance use.”

See Kristy’s story and how Rogers helped her regain power over her life in the video below.

Symptoms of PTSD

Dr. Wetterneck says symptoms usually begin within a few months after a traumatic event, but sometimes can start several years afterward.

Symptoms of PTSD include:

• Avoidance of situations, places, and people that are reminders of the trauma
• Emotional numbing
• Sleeplessness
• Flashbacks or nightmares
• Fear, guilt, or shame
• Hypervigilance
• Isolation
• Lack of desire to plan for the future

Wondering if you could have PTSD?

Living with the paralyzing reminders of a past trauma can make even the simple things in life seem difficult. To see if you could be showing signs of PTSD, take our free, confidential PTSD quiz.

Treatment for PTSD and trauma recovery

Rogers’ Trauma Recovery Care treats trauma-related disorders like PTSD, and is based on the clinically-proven method, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), with an emphasis on prolonged exposure, which helps to reduce anxiety related to the traumatic event.

Outpatient care for adults is available in Appleton, Brown Deer, Madison, Minneapolis, West Allis, and in Illinois at our Skokie and Hinsdale locations. Outpatient care for adolescents is available in Brown Deer. Additionally, our new Trauma Recovery Adult Residential Care facility is planned to open at our Oconomowoc campus in June 2019.

For admission information or a free screening, call 800-767-4411, or submit an online screening request.