PTSD Assessment
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a common diagnosis after sexual assault and other traumas.
While I am not a therapist and do not diagnose, I’ve worked with people that have received the PTSD label. I only use the label so you will understand what I am referring to.
#1 Sign of PTSD and Trauma in Women
Repeated Memories of the Trauma
If you’ve recently experienced trauma, your mind may be filled with memories, leaving no room for anything else. You are likely feeling very anxious, fearful, sad, depressed, and don’t know how to get the thoughts out of your head.If you experienced trauma in the past, you remember it as if it was yesterday and are experiencing the same feelings. You beat yourself up for still feeling them, which brings you even further down the rabbit hole.
In either situation, you may remember the abuse/trauma, and keep pushing your thoughts and feelings away.
#2 Sign of PTSD in Women
No Memories of the Abuse
This is known as repressed memories. You have no recollection of anything that happened, but you are experiencing all the typical symptoms of trauma.
You may remember very fragmented bits and pieces of what happened and question if it actually happened or not.
#3 Signs of Post Traumatic Stress in Women
NightmaresNightmares make sleeping through the night impossible.
You may dread going to sleep, so you prolong it.
You are not getting the necessary replenishing sleep you need and are experiencing severe fatigue which makes your days very difficult.
#4 Sign of Trauma in Women
Anger
You may be feeling angry about things that don’t make sense, lashing out at others, and beating yourself up.
#5 Sign of Trauma
PerfectionismYou have to be the perfect person for everyone. Everything has to be in its place, has to go as planned, and looks perfect otherwise you punish yourself and others mentally, emotionally, and physically.
#6 Sign of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Compulsive People Pleaser
You always say yes to things that you don’t want to do. You want to make everyone happy to the point of working yourself to exhaustion. You always put yourself last.
#7 Sign
Addiction
Addiction is a way of stuffing down your feelings, for example with eating disorders and alcohol. You may also use it as a (negative) coping skill, such as with shopping, gambling, sex, drugs, etc. Addiction is a symptom of trauma.
#8 Top Sign
Suicidal thoughts
Trauma can instill a great desire to want to end it all. You want out of the pain and suffering. You feel powerless and can’t imagine that life is worth living again. Please reach out. Help is here for you.
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Healing from PTSD
As I’ve stated, I do not treat diagnoses. I have been an energy medicine practitioner for 29 years. I tackle things from an energetic perspective. When someone experiences trauma, that trauma is stored energetically in the body.
It starts out as an energy blockage in the chakras, and if not addressed, will move into the physical body causing lowered immunity, stomach aches, menstrual issues and physical pain. Eventually, it can manifest as chronic illnesses such as Lupus, Fibromyalgia, cancer, diabetes, and other dis-eases. The energy body is where it is addressed for core healing.
Life Force Energy
“Lifeforce or ki (pronounced chi),as it is also called is a subtle energy that surrounds and flows within all living things. It is the presence of ki in living things that keeps them alive and healthy. If the ki is removed or greatly weakened in anything alive, it will soon die. All illness is caused by disturbances in the healthy flow of ki within the subtle energy system of all living things-William Lee Rand-Reiki.org
Our life force energy flows through our chakras. When everything is flowing freely, we experience a balanced body, mind, and spirit.
When we experience trauma, our chakras, depending on what happens, will close down, blocking off the flow of life force energy. This creates imbalances that eventually manifest in the body.
When we understand our energy body, we begin to understand where PTSD lives in the body and how to heal it. Let’s talk about our Chakra system. There are 7 main chakras that run up the spine beginning at the base, to the top of the head.
The 7 Primary Chakras
In Chakra Alignment by Christi Smirl, one of the many things she teaches is the 7 primary chakras and their function.
Root/Base ChakraThe chakra is located at the base of the spine and is associated with ideas and patterns related to self-preservation, safety, security, instincts, ancestry, social order and survival. When this chakra is healthy, one feels grounded, stable, supported and full of vitality.
Shadow Emotion
The main shadow emotion that creates imbalances is fear. It may be fear of loss, fear of abandonment, fear of death, fear of illness, fear of pain, fear of harm, fear from past situations or fear of the future.
PTSD Symptoms Associated with the Root Chakra:
Imbalances are indicated by feelings of anxiety, depression, feeling stuck, restlessness, poor focus, sluggishness, laziness, insecurity, fatigue, eating disorders, addictions or obsession with security. Also addictions, lack of safety/trust, feelings of dread or dissociation.
Physical Imbalances
The root chakra rules the spine, pelvis, anus, colon, adrenal glands, coccyx, hips, legs, knees, ankles, feet, teeth, bones, and sense of smell. When the root chakra is functioning abnormally symptoms of pain, tension, dis-ease, and dysfunction may arise in these areas.
Sacral Chakra
The chakra is located in the lower abdominal area and is associated with ideas and patterns related to creativity, sensuality, passion, life enjoyment and self-nurturing. A person is able to make healthy boundaries, experience joy, hope, pleasure and passion, express desires, feel creative and develop healthy emotional and social skills.Shadow Emotion
The main shadow emotion that creates the imbalance is guilt.
PTSD Symptoms Associated with the Sacral Chakra:
Lack of joy, unworthiness, blocked creativity, unhealthy social skills and blocked desires.
Also, guilt, shame, self-loathing, or lack of boundaries.
Physical Imbalances
Imbalances can result in physical pain, tension, dysfunction or disease in the sexual and reproductive organs, small intestines, kidneys, ureters, bladder, prostate, lower-middle spine, lymph system or sense of taste.
Solar Plexus Chakra
This chakra is located in the navel area and is associated with ideas and patterns related to one’s own personal power, ego, self-esteem, responsibility, motivation, empowerment and ability to transform. A person is confident, has healthy self-will, embraces their infinite power and feels empowered to direct their life.Shadow Emotion
The main shadow emotion that creates an imbalance in the solar plexus is shame. Shame about one’s identity, past, motivations or choices.
PTSD Symptoms Associated with the Solar Plexus Chakra:
This can result in poor self-esteem, body image disturbances, oversensitivity to criticism, indecisiveness, being easily manipulated, poor follow-through, victim mentality or domineering behaviors. As well as feelings of powerlessness, lack of motivation, shame, anger and/or eating disorders.
Physical Imbalances
Pain, tensions, dysfunctions or diseases in the naval region, upper abdomen, liver, gallbladder, digestion, metabolism, middle spine, spleen, pancreas, small intestines, stomach, lower back ribs or sense of sight.
Heart Chakra
This chakra is located in the heart region and is associated with ideas and patterns of unconditional love, compassion, nurturing, heart-felt emotions, loving relationships, affection, generosity, bonding, dedication, sharing, kindness, sincerity, and forgiveness. A person is able to express the love of self and others and experiences healthy relationships in many forms.Shadow Emotion
The main shadow emotion that creates imbalances at the heart chakra is grief. Grief or regret about people, events, situations or loss. Los of relationships, jobs, circumstances, support or status.
PTSD Symptoms Associated with the Heart Chakra:
Issues surrounding hate, resentment, grief, sadness, jealousy, envy, co-dependency, bitterness, self pity, clinginess, fears of loneliness, fear of commitment, over sacrificing behaviors or antisocial behaviors. May be expressed as difficult relationships and co-dependency.
Physical Imbalances
May be expressed as symptoms of pain, tensions, diseases or dysfunctions in the chest, diaphragm, ribs, shoulders, arms, hands, heart, circulatory system, lungs, breasts, thymus, shoulder blades and upper back or sense of touch.
Throat Chakra
This chakra is found in the throat area and is associated with ideas and patterns related to speaking one’s truth, honesty with self and others, balanced speech and listening, authentic communication, writing, capacity to make decisions and taking authority over one’s life.Shadow Emotion
The primary shadow emotion of the throat chakra is frustration and inability to communicate.
PTSD Symptoms Associated with the Throat Chakra:
This may look like talkativeness, poor listening skills, cruel speech, dishonesty, gossiping, yelling or fear of speaking. Speaking up can create profound empowerment or vulnerability. When these truths are repressed, a deep sense of frustration, agitation and dis-ease may occur. Imbalances often show up as fear of speaking up, unable to express emotions or choosing to shut down emotionally.
Physical Imbalances
Abnormalities may cause physical symptoms such as pain, tension, diseases or dysfunctions in the neck, throat, vocal cords, trachea, voice, mouth, ears, respiratory system, thyroid gland or sense of sound.
Third Eye Chakra
This chakra is located at the forehead between and just above the eyes. In a balanced state, it is associated with intuition, spiritual insight, inspiration, higher mental activities, wisdom, psychic abilities, inner seeing, intellect, memory, understanding of symbols and meaning. Shadow Emotion
Illusion is the main shadow emotion.
PTSD Symptoms Associated with the Third Eye Chakra:
Imbalances often manifest as neurological disturbances, mood swings, abnormal sleep cycles, living a fantasy, hallucinations, delusional behaviors, impatience, lack of logic, poor concentration, excessive empathy, being unsympathetic, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors, and paranoia.
Physical Imbalances
If this chakra is imbalanced, symptoms of pain, tension, dis-ease, or disfunction are associated with the head, skull, face, eyes, central nervous system, hormone system, and pituitary gland.
Crown Chakra
The crown chakra is located at the top of the head. In a balanced state, it is associated with spiritual unity, divine intelligence, enlightenment, selflessness, faith, mysticism, transcendent ideas, prophetic thoughts, devotion, divine intervention and universal consciousness.Shadow Emotion
Fear of death is the main shadow emotion. It may look like not trusting or not being able to surrender to the divine source. Fear of death affects decisions and the functioning of all the other chakras.
PTSD Symptoms Associated with the Crown Chakra:
A survivor may experience a sense of spiritual abandonment, loss of purpose, loss of identity, loss of connection to the world or cynicism.
Physical Imbalances
If the crown chakra is imbalanced, there may be pain, dysfunctions or diseases of the brain and nervous system, looking as dizziness, equilibrium dysfunctions, weakness, paralysis.
Heal the Chakras-Heal PTSD
I hope that you’ve learned something about yourself that you may never have known!
The best way I know to heal PTSD is to heal our energy field which includes our chakras.
Mindfulness, meditation, sound healing, eating high vibrational foods, conscious breathing, yoga and/or light exercise, essential oils, exploring art, journaling, Reiki energy healing, listening to inspirational teachers, laughing, getting out in nature…these are practices that change our vibration and clear our chakras, opening us up to love, light, peace, joy and abundance.
I have created a free Living Light Guide that explains many of these techniques in more detail. You can request here:
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Create a New Habit
I encourage you to create one new habit from the above list.
Implement it for the next 21 days.
Simple changes eventually make a big impact.
You are a powerful creator.
Create a better life for yourself.
Only you can…
If you know someone still suffering from PTSD or trauma, share this.
Blossom Beyond Abuse provides distance healing, and Reiki healing services for individuals seeking relief from anxiety, stress, guilt, and shame from sexual abuse, trauma, and PTSD from a wide variety of issues. Though I am a distance energy healer and am not limited to location, I serve clients from around the world and my local communities including Southington, CT, Hartford, Farmington, Newington, Cheshire, and West Hartford Connecticut.
