June is PTSD Awareness Month – a critical time to spotlight the unique aspects of post-traumatic stress disorder among women. Studies have shown that women are about twice as likely as men to experience PTSD, reflecting the distinct nature of how they encounter and process traumatic events. Understanding these differences allows our experienced team to provide effective, trauma-informed care that addresses women’s specific needs.
Understanding PTSD in Women
PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Symptoms can include flashbacks, severe anxiety, intrusive thoughts and emotional numbness. However, these characteristics can vary significantly between genders due to biological, psychological and sociocultural factors.
Women are more likely to experience prolonged trauma, such as abuse or domestic violence, which can result in complex PTSD – a form of the disorder characterized by more severe and disruptive symptoms. Moreover, women often experience societal pressures that can complicate their responses and coping mechanisms in the aftermath of trauma.
Common PTSD Symptoms in Women
While PTSD symptoms can overlap, certain aspects are typically more prominent among women.
- Hyperarousal: Women may experience heightened vigilance and an exaggerated startle response. An inability to relax, even in comfortable surroundings, can also cause issues like insomnia.
- Avoidance: You may steer clear of places, people, or activities that remind you of the trauma, which can strictly curtail your life.
- Re-experiencing: Women are more likely to report flashbacks and nightmares as part of their PTSD symptoms.
- Mood and cognitive changes: Women with PTSD might display more pronounced sensitivity to emotional stimuli and can often experience feelings of guilt or shame associated with the traumatic event.
Why Trauma-Informed Treatment Is Essential
Trauma-informed care is pivotal in helping women overcome PTSD. This approach acknowledges the widespread impact of trauma and responds by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into treatment practices.
- Safety: Creating an environment where women feel physically and psychologically secure is the first and most critical step in trauma-informed care.
- Empowerment: Encouraging autonomy and self-determination can restore the sense of control you may have lost after experiencing trauma.
- Peer support: Fostering connections with others who have had similar experiences can be incredibly healing.
Healing Is Within Your Reach
At Rising Roads Recovery, we understand the multifaceted ways trauma can affect your life and pledge to support you with informed, compassionate care that respects your challenges. Let us help you get your safety and peace of mind back in a single-gender environment.
In observation of PTSD Awareness Month, remember that recovering from this disorder goes beyond treating symptoms by nurturing resilience and inner healing. Rising Roads’ team of experts has designed our women’s trauma program for clients with PTSD, C-PTSD, subclinical trauma and related disorders. Reach out to us when you’re ready to learn more.
