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Melanie Reese LMFT

Melanie Reese LMFT

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You are here: Home / Trauma

Trauma

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WHAT IS TRAUMA?

When a person experiences Trauma, life sometimes is separated into a “before and after”. Often, by the time a client picks up the phone to make a therapy appointment, they are in a place they feel stuck and just need help to “cope with it”. I love giving them the news that change is possible and there is light at the end of the tunnel.

When you first think of trauma, you may think of the veteran soldier struggling with PTSD symptoms, a child or domestic parter who has endured physical abuse, or possibly a college student whose working through the aftermath of a sexual assault. These events are definitely traumatic. BUT, have you considered these? An individual  whose parents recently divorced, the teenager that was in a car wreck, the mother who had a miscarriage, or the sudden breakup of a loved one. Here’s one I bet you definitely haven’t considered; The child that needed a parent to comfort them and got the message that “emotions weren’t okay” so now they feel lost and shut down in their relationships as an adult. Do these people experience trauma?

Yes! Trauma is defined as, “a deeply distressing or disturbing experience” that has a lasting emotional impact. The individual’s life history, level of support, current coping skills all factor in to if an event becomes traumatic for one person and not another.

WHAT ARE SIGNS OF TRAUMA?

  • Feeling helpless and out of control
  • Anxiety in all areas or specific areas of life
  • Depression symptoms
  • Difficult memories resurfacing throughout the day/night
  • Difficult emotions resurfacing throughout the day
  • Feeling disconnected, isolated
  • Difficulty in trusting others

Trauma causes physical symptoms as well:

  • Sleeping patterns are thrown off. Inability to fall asleep and/or nightmares
  • Difficulty focusing
  • Body aches, Fatigue
  • Inability to make decisions
  • Irritation
  • Fast heartbeat

All of these things give us negative beliefs about ourselves that we may not realize we are still carrying around today. They are having a huge impact on the way we view ourselves, approach life and our relationships with others.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HAVE A TRAUMATIC EVENT?

Remember any event that is deeply distressing and disturbing can be traumatic. Here are some helpful tips to aide in finding symptom relief:

  • Exercise: This is great way to get your mind and body connected and processing! Take your dog for a walk, find a You Tube Video to exercise with or try a Trauma Sensitive Yoga Session!
  • Be Social: Even if you don’t want to, spend time with family and friends. It’s good for you, as research tells us that it’s important not to isolate ourselves.
  • Self Care: Take care of yourself. Sleep. Eat well. Find ways to relax.
  • Be Mindful: Breathe. Experience what you are sensing. Don’t judge yourself.
  • Seek a Professional: If you are feeling extreme symptoms or you’ve tried these tips and they aren’t helping – get help. Contact me!

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“Being traumatized means continuing to organize your life as if the trauma were still going on – unchanged and immutable – as every new encounter or event is contaminated by the past.”

–Bessel Van Der Kolk, Author of The Body Keeps the Score:Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma 

7 Ways Childhood Trauma Follows You Into Adulthood

https://youtu.be/N2oUfg7qNG0

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What Clients Are Saying

I feel as though she truly knows me and cares about me.

“Melanie is a wonderful therapist. Her insight, encouragement and support for the past 5 months has helped me tremendously. When I meet with her, I feel as though she truly knows me and cares about me. Melanie has taught me how to remain confident in the face of life’s difficulties, and I am thankful to have her in my life.”

~ Female. 22

Melanie has helped us restore our faith in one another.

“Through a lot of hurt and betrayal I lost faith and hope in my marriage. Over the last year, Melanie has helped us restore our faith in one another and believe in friendship with my husband again.”

~ Female. 39

Melanie is one of the best things that’s ever happened to me!

“I found Melanie after a long few years struggling with anxiety. I had been resistant to therapy my whole life thinking I didn’t need it, but I finally got to a place that I felt there was no other option. I’m so glad I did. Melanie is one of the best things that’s ever happened to me! Not only did she help me with my anxiety, she got me to address things I had been carrying around my whole life that I was unaware of or in denial of. I am a completely different person than I was when I first walked into her office and I am so proud of the work we did together. I can’t recommend her highly enough! Go see her.”

~ Female. 26

She gave her tools to help her work through her problems

“Melanie really connected with my daughter. She gave her tools to help her work through her problems and to make it easier to cope with being a pre-teen. The passion Melanie has for this work is evident and she is such a joy to be around.”

~ Mom to Pre-teen. 12

Recent Posts

  • Join Nashville’s New Collective for Mental Health Practitioners October 1, 2019
  • Getting a Good Night’s Sleep Improves Mental Health September 30, 2019
  • How Trauma Therapists Are Helping in the Treatment of Eating Disorders July 1, 2019
  • Getting Help for Postpartum Depression from Therapists in Nashville May 29, 2019
  • Nashville Therapists Can Help Identify and Break Your Trauma Loop April 29, 2019

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1305 16th Ave S
Nashville, TN 37212
Conveniently located
on Music Row!

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Contact Me

Phone: 615.504.8337
Melanie@IntegrativeTherapyNashville.com
Hours: M~Th, 10:30am-6:30pm


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