Searching for Therapy for Military in Washington DC? Being in the military and carrying out the normal responsibilities of life can be challenging. Sometimes strength means asking for help. At Washington Psychological Wellness, our therapists are passionate about helping you work towards achieving your goals. We aim to guide and facilitate your self-discovery process, sparking your own internal resources, insight, and ability to grow and heal. Whether you seek therapy for a specific concern or are curious about knowing yourself on a deeper level, therapy can help. You and your therapist will collaboratively work to explore and understand your core beliefs, feelings, behaviors, and relationships that are useful to you and those that may contribute to your current problems. Our psychotherapists work with clients to gain greater clarity of, and insight into, their true needs and wants so that they can move forward in life, making choices as the person they want to be.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD has been estimated to affect 15% of Veterans. Memories from combat, the death of close friends in the unit, and living amid constant danger may be invisible wounds from war.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is also known as combat stress and was previously called “shell shock.” You might get shocked after a life-threatening event occurs, but if your body is stuck in the state of shock, it is very possible that you have PTSD.
When you face an extremely traumatic event, your body can react in two ways: the fight-or-flight response. This natural response is also known as mobilization or immobilization. When you’re mobilized, your heart beats faster, your muscles tense up, and your blood pressure can rise. As soon as the threat passes, your body returns to normal. However, with immobilization, which is also known as PTSD, your body does not return to its regular state even after the threat is long gone.
Some of the symptoms of PTSD include:
Persistent, repetitive, and intrusive thoughts about the trauma that occurred, such as nightmares or flashbacks.
Avoiding places, people, and situations that remind you of the traumatic event. This can happen as well when veterans avoid areas with fireworks because it might bring back memories of gunshots.
Being extremely jumpy or alert because you don’t know when something bad might happen or trigger your PTSD.
There are a couple of ways you can lessen the effects of PTSD, such as exercise, which can help boost your mood and decrease the stress response. You can also use deep breathing and mindfulness exercises to help you relax. If you think you’re about to experience a flashback, there are some grounding techniques—like noticing sights, smells, and sounds around you—to bring you back to reality.
Military sexual trauma is an issue that can affect soldiers of all genders.
Military sexual trauma can occur even within one’s own brigade.
Flashbacks or nightmares of sexual assault can negatively affect your day-to-day life as well.
Sexual trauma can also lead to PTSD and other coping mechanisms, such as substance abuse, anxiety, and depression.
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Washington Psychological Wellness is not a crisis service. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. For immediate emotional support, call or text 988.
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