Myth vs Facts
Myth OR Fact? PTSD can affect absolutely anyone, regardless of background or profession.
What is FACT! PTSD can affect absolutely anyone, regardless of background or profession. It is heavily associated with non-military events as well, such as childhood or adult abuse, violent crimes, natural disasters, or severe accidents.
Feeling or acting as if the traumatic event is happening again.
What are flashbacks?
Engaging in pleasant activities like drawing, doing puzzles, spending time in nature, or removing yourself from triggering situations helps prevent emotional overload.
What is Mindful Distraction?
The 3-3-3 Rule!
Identify 3 things you can see, 3 sounds you hear, and 3 body parts you can move.
Myth or Fact? To heal, you must relive your trauma in painful detail.
What is MYTH? While exposure therapy involves recalling the event, the goal is to process the memory safely without retraumatization. Other highly effective methods—such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)—do not require extensive recounting of the traumatic event
Distressing dreams about the event or general themes of danger.
What are Nightmares?
This helps manage emotional overwhelm by safely setting aside distressing thoughts, memories, or anxiety so you can function in the present moment, rather than suppressing them.
What is The Container Exercise?
Butterfly Hug!
Cross arms over your chest, placing hands on opposite shoulders, and gently tap your chest in an alternating "hug" motion
Myth OR Fact? Trauma is only caused by life-threatening events.
What is MYTH? While life-threatening situations (like combat or major accidents) can cause trauma, it can also stem from subtle, repeated distress. Emotional abuse, neglect, bullying, and systemic marginalization can all overwhelm your coping abilities and lead to severe trauma responses.
Unwanted, recurring, and distressing memories of what happened.
What are Intrusive Memories?
Imagine a real or entirely fictional sanctuary where you feel completely secure, engaging all your senses—visuals, sounds, smells, temperatures, and physical textures—to anchor yourself in calmness.
What is Safe Place?
Belly Breathing
Imagine your belly is a balloon. Breathe in deeply through your nose to fill the balloon and exhale slowly through your mouth.
Myth OR Fact? Trauma means you are permanently damaged or weak.
What is MYTH? Experiencing trauma is an indicator of human vulnerability, not weakness. Trauma alters the brain, but these impacts do not have to be permanent. Many individuals experience post-traumatic growth, finding positive changes and profound resilience after adversity.
Feeling detached, hopeless, or unable to experience positive emotions like joy or love.
What is Emotional Numbing?
A mindfulness method used to manage anxiety and panic by engaging your five senses to anchor you in the present moment.
What is the 5-4-3-2-1 technique?
Stretch! - Do some neck rolls, wiggle your arms, relax your jaw, twist in your chair - WHATEVER YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH.
How does that feel now?
Myth OR Fact? Everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD.
What is MYTH? While a high percentage of adults experience potentially traumatic events, only about 4.1% to 6.8% of the population experiences PTSD in their lifetime. Everyone responds differently, and traumatic events do not automatically lead to PTSD.
These symptoms often manifest as a constant "fight-or-flight" response.
What are arousal and reactivity symptoms? (Hypervigilance, Physical Symptoms, Behavioral Changes, or Sleep Disturbances)
Imagine your belly is a balloon. And breathing in deeply through your nose to fill the balloon and exhale slowly through your mouth.
What is Belly Breathing?
State a fact about trauma.
What is: you are doing good work today? Keep going.