When some of us have survived a traumatic event in which life-threatening situations were present and others lost their lives, it can be normal to have feelings of guilt that we survived while others didn’t.
However, when we begin to show symptoms of survivor’s guilt PTSD, the quality of our life, our overall happiness, and our relationships with others can suffer. Reaching out for support from a survivor’s guilt PTSD treatment center like Serenity Trauma can be an ideal way to help you reclaim your life and move on with grace and ease.
The Complexities of Survivor’s Guilt PTSD: What You Need to Know Before Seeking Help
Most people who have survivor’s guilt PTSD aren’t even aware they have this condition, and often there are many underlying complexities. According to research out of Notre Dame University by Amber L Griffioen titled ‘Regaining the ‘Lost Self’: A Philosophical Analysis of Survivor’s Guilt’, the researcher reveals that much of the trauma people diagnosed with survivor’s guilt PTSD stems from the turbulence that resides between shame and guilt, and how the two interact within the psyches of survivors.
Specifically, she argues that survivor’s guilt often represents a kind of response to feelings of shame, which is tied to the “central philosophical notions of autonomy and integrity”. Therapists who specialize in treating patients with survivor’s guilt PTSD at Serenity Trauma will use a number of techniques, including brainspotting, to delve into the sectors of one’s feelings where a sense of shame and guilt reside and wage war on a front that’s begging to be pacified by a compassionate therapists capable of helping patients face and understand the root of their trauma
1. Hostility and Rage can be a Symptom of Survivor’s Guilt PTSD
If you survived a life-threatening incident such as a car crash, an act of gun violence, or witnessed a graphic, catastrophic scene, then you might be dealing with elevated levels of rage and hostility.
In many cases people with survivor’s guilt PTSD don’t even notice an increase in their anger until friends, family or work colleagues point it out, and even then they don’t associate their rage with surviving a traumatic event.
Mood swings, angry outbursts, impatience, irritability, and other anger-related things like road rage can begin to surface and grow out of control for many people with survivor’s guilt PTSD. If you are having feelings of anger or notice that you become easily irritable and impatient, you should definitely seek a consultation with a therapist specializing in survivor;’s guilt PTSD at Serenity Trauma
2. Many People with Survivor’s Guilt PTSD Suffer from Ongoing Nightmares
Many experts believe that dreams are ways for the brain to work through traumatic experiences. However, when our dreams are laden with fear the body absorbs that energy which translates to anxiety.
If you have ongoing nightmares, whether they are directly related to the traumatic event you survived, or not noticeably related, you will want to reach out for therapeutic help. Often, bad dreams that don’t seem to be related to a direct traumatic event can be indirectly related, and for patients dealing with this type of anxiety, brainspotting therapy can help people with PTSD that stems from survivor’s guilt.
If you have recurring nightmares, one of our therapists will have a consultation with you and determine if brainspotting is the right treatment to help you work through your survivor’s guilt PTSD.
3. The Need or Desire to Isolate is a Common Sign of Survivor’s Guilt PTSD
In several cases, people diagnosed with survivor’s guilt PTSD will have drifted into a solitary place where they try to avoid interacting with others.
While some people dealing with anxiety fear being alone and cling to others, some people deal with their anxiety differently and become total recluses. These people feel safer in their own homes, away from others, and away from the day-to-day tasks and experiences that once consumed their days prior to the traumatic event.
Isolation can have devastating impacts on one’s job, as well as their relationships. Furthermore, isolation only feeds the body with damaging levels of anxiety. If you survived a terrible accident or witnessed a devastating incident and find yourself craving isolation, reach out to one of our therapists at Serenity Trauma.
Only through a consultation can survivor’s guilt PTSD be diagnosed before a custom treatment plan can be pieced together.
Call Serenity Trauma for Survivor’s Guilt PTSD Diagnosis and Treatment
There are many more signs people exhibit who have survivor’s guilt PTSD such as obsessive thoughts about the traumatic event, lack of motivation, suicidal thoughts, ongoing nausea, difficulty in sleeping, and regular feelings of fearfulness.
If you are experiencing any of these feelings, or the three specific symptoms mentioned in this article, show yourself some love and care; reach out to our caring team at Serenity Trauma and schedule a consultation with a therapist specializing in survivor’s guilt PTSD.
Once we have diagnosed your condition, we will put together a custom treatment plan that will rid your body and mind of anxiety, and together we will get you back onto the path to living a happy, fulfilled life full of meaning, and a life that allows you to keep looking forward to an optimistic future ahead.