PTSD Awareness Month

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can affect anyone who has witnessed or experienced a traumatic event. While many people are familiar with PTSD from media portrayals or stories about soldiers returning from war, it can impact a wide range of individuals. From survivors of natural disasters to victims of abuse or car accidents, PTSD does not discriminate based on background, age, or gender.

What is PTSD?

PTSD is a mental health disorder that can develop after someone has experienced or witnessed a life-threatening or deeply disturbing event. It’s normal to feel fear, sadness, or anger after a traumatic experience, but for some, those feelings don’t go away. In fact, they might intensify and disrupt daily life.

The symptoms of PTSD can vary from person to person but generally include:

• Flashbacks: Reliving the traumatic event as though it is happening again.

• Nightmares: Recurrent, disturbing dreams related to the event.

• Avoidance: Steering clear of reminders of the trauma (places, people, situations).

• Hypervigilance: Being easily startled, feeling tense or "on edge," or having difficulty relaxing.

• Emotional Numbness: Feeling disconnected or detached from others, or losing interest in activities once enjoyed.

• Negative Thoughts: Difficulty feeling positive emotions, or having a distorted sense of guilt or blame.
  
  

These symptoms can last for months or even years, and for some, they become chronic, affecting their ability to function socially, emotionally, or professionally.

Causes and Risk Factors

While the cause of PTSD is directly tied to a traumatic event, not everyone who experiences trauma develops the disorder. Factors that can contribute to someone developing PTSD include:

• Severity of the trauma: The more intense and prolonged the event, the higher the risk.

• History of trauma: Individuals who have experienced past traumas (childhood abuse, for example) are more likely to develop PTSD after subsequent traumatic events.

• Biological factors: Genetic factors and the way a person’s brain reacts to stress may increase susceptibility.

• Lack of support: People who don't have a strong network of friends or family to help them process the trauma may be at higher risk.

• Pre-existing mental health conditions: Those who have anxiety, depression, or other conditions might be more vulnerable.
  
  

How PTSD Affects Daily Life

• Relationships: Trust can be broken or weakened, and emotional distance often grows between people with PTSD and their loved ones. They may seem irritable or withdrawn, leading to misunderstandings.

• Work or School: Concentration and productivity often decline. PTSD sufferers might struggle to focus or engage in tasks, especially if triggers are present in their environment.

• Physical Health: Chronic stress, anxiety, and sleep disturbances can contribute to long-term physical health issues, such as headaches, gastrointestinal problems, and a weakened immune system.
  
  

Treatment Options for PTSD

The good news is that PTSD is treatable. Although recovery is often a long journey, there are several evidence-based therapies and treatments that have proven effective:

• Psychotherapy (Talk Therapy):

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This is one of the most common and effective forms of therapy for PTSD. CBT helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors that stem from trauma.

  • Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE): This therapy encourages individuals to gradually face the memories and situations that trigger their PTSD, helping them process the emotions tied to those experiences.

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): This is a specialized therapy that helps individuals process traumatic memories using guided eye movements or other types of bilateral stimulation.

  • Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP): The use of Ketamine has extensive evidence supporting its safe and effective use for Treatment Resistant Depression, PTSD, OCD, Eating Disorders, and Anxiety. KAP has proven to soften habitually unhelpful ways of thinking and open new neural pathways which can allow for new motivation, capacity to feel joy and hope.

• Medication:
  Antidepressants such as SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) are commonly prescribed to help manage the symptoms of PTSD. Medication can help alleviate some of the anxiety, depression, and intrusive thoughts associated with the disorder.
  

• Support Groups:
  Joining a support group where individuals can share their experiences in a safe, confidential environment can help reduce feelings of isolation. These groups also provide insight into how others cope with similar challenges.
  

• Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques:
  Practices such as meditation, yoga, and deep-breathing exercises can help people manage stress and stay grounded in the present moment. These techniques can complement more formal therapies and help PTSD sufferers regulate their emotional and physical responses.
  
  

Moving Forward

One of the most challenging aspects of PTSD is the stigma that still surrounds mental health disorders. Many individuals feel ashamed or weak for experiencing symptoms like flashbacks or anxiety. This stigma often prevents them from seeking help, which can delay recovery.

It's crucial that we change the narrative around PTSD. Those affected by it are not "weak" or "broken" they are resilient individuals who have experienced something traumatic and are working hard to heal. Acknowledging the complexity of PTSD and offering compassion rather than judgment is key to creating a more supportive environment for those who need help.

PTSD is a condition that requires time, support, and understanding to heal. If you or someone you know is struggling with PTSD, remember that it is okay to ask for help. Healing is not linear, but with the right resources, support systems, and professional guidance, recovery is absolutely possible.

If you're unsure where to start, consider reaching out to a mental health professional who can guide you toward appropriate treatment options. You don’t have to go through it alone.

Conclusion

PTSD is a serious condition that affects millions of people, yet it is often misunderstood. By educating ourselves about the symptoms, causes, and treatment options available, we can foster a more empathetic and supportive world for those affected. Let’s continue to have open conversations, break the stigma, and ensure that individuals with PTSD get the care and respect they deserve.

Men's Mental Health Month

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by Bryan Randolph, LICSW

Counseling can be helpful for all people, yet men are much less likely to seek care. Imagine the following: You have just been diagnosed with heart disease. Chances are low (but not zero, given some of the men in my life I have known) that you would tell yourself “This isn’t real, It’s just all in my head” and “I need to toughen up and deal with this myself”. Yet, these phrases are commonly heard when we talk or think about mental health. A recent study found that despite 77% percent of the men polled reporting symptoms of a mental health condition such as depression, anxiety and unhealthy levels of stress, close to half (40%) said it would take thoughts of suicide or self-harm before they seek help. Men face many barriers to getting help, including believing that mental health issues and stress injuries are signs of weakness, fear of judgment from others, worry about potential consequences related to their job or ability to have firearms, and simply not having the time, resources or energy to get help. Even men who do reach out often feel that medical providers under-estimate and mislabel their concerns or provide treatment that is not helpful.        

Good mental healthcare can help diagnose and treat stress injuries, illnesses, disorders, and conditions related to our brains and nervous system. However, mental healthcare is not just about treating things that are wrong and fixing things that are “broken”. Counseling works to help us connect to our mind, body, and spirit; in other words, to be the person we want to be.  

Issues helped by counseling 

The counseling process starts by working to identify problem areas in your life and then creating goals for improvement. Your therapist will work to provide different treatment options and collaborate with you to create a treatment plan. Many men find it difficult to know where to start or feel uncomfortable focusing on themselves. There are a variety of different styles and approaches that can help make it feel more comfortable and help to figure out “what to talk about”. Additionally, treatments exist that involve minimal or no verbal processing, which can be appealing to those who do not want to, are unsure how, or feel unable to talk about their past or current problems. Check out the end of this post for more information about these options.  

Many men wish that they could control their emotions better, including issues related to anger, anxiety, worry or OCD, depression, or feeling “numb or empty”. They may “bottle up these feelings” or turn to unhealthier ways of coping, such as over-use of drugs and alcohol or video games/social media, being a “workaholic” or isolating themselves from others. Counseling often starts by helping men recognize the problems they are facing and identifying potential underlying causes and/or contributing factors to these issues. I frequently work with men who make connections for the first time between their current behaviors and trauma, neglect, abuse, or a chaotic upbringing in their past. I frequently get asked “This [insert horribly traumatic thing] happened to me in my past and I never told anyone. Do you think that’s had any impact on me?” (Spoiler, the answer is “Yes”). I also often help individuals discover that many of their problems and challenges are actually symptoms of undiagnosed conditions such as anxiety, OCD, ADHD, Depression or being on the Autism Spectrum. Being able to recognize these things often brings a profound sense of relief. It helps individuals understand themselves and learn how to make things better by taking accountability for the things they can change and to not beat themselves up for things that are out of their control. 

Many men find it hard to deal with stress related to relationships. I often work with men seeking help related to conflict and tension with their spouse or partner, particularly around issues related to parenting. Sexual health issues, including performance, communicating wants/needs to your spouse or partner, or unhealthy behaviors related to sex or pornography are also common reasons men seek counseling.  

     Work stress is another large factor that drives people to seek help. Many men find it hard to discuss issues related to work and tend to keep their feelings to themselves. Counseling can be a helpful place to get support managing a challenging job, feeling aimless or unsure of a career direction and/or help finding or keeping a job. 

First responders, law enforcement, and veterans experience or have experienced exposure to traumatic events on a frequent if not daily basis. Many individuals in these roles feel hesitant to seek help due to worry about judgment from others and/or potential consequences that could affect their ability to do their job. Myself and many other clinicians in our practice frequently work with those in these types of roles and have experience addressing the particular needs of these groups, including the ability to handle listening to the types of situations encountered on calls, and other unique challenges to these fields. 

Benefits of Counseling

Counseling is focused on more than just identifying problems. Benefits of counseling include improving relationships by developing better communication skills and being able to manage emotions rather than avoiding problems or exploding in anger. It can lead to feeling closer with your spouse or partner, feeling better able to navigate the challenge of parenting in a way that is supportive while also setting and holding healthy boundaries, repairing or accepting difficult relationships with your own parents, and creating meaningful connections with the people in your life.    

Counseling can prevent mental and emotional health issues from getting worse or becoming larger. Learning how to manage stress and anger can improve overall physical health as many issues can be caused or made worse by stress, including stomach, muscle and nerve pain, IBS, chronic fatigue, headaches and autoimmune conditions, among others.  

Counseling provides a non-judgmental and objective space to discuss problems and “think out loud”. Talking to a counselor is a chance to process your thoughts and express your feelings in a raw and unfiltered way without worrying about how it will affect the counselor or how it will make them see you. Additionally, counselors are trained to listen and will not be burdened or disturbed by the things you share. 

 Beyond office and talk-based therapies 

 Some feelings can feel difficult to put into words.  Trauma, chronic anxiety and depression, and feelings that just seem to “exist” without a clear explanation are often extremely difficult for the “thinking and word” parts of the brain to process.  “Walk and talk” sessions can be helpful for individuals who feel uncomfortable sitting down in an office setting and find it easier to open up while outside and/or engaging in physical activity.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) use bilateral stimulation to help the brain reprocess stuck feelings of trauma and emotional distress that have been resistant to change through talk therapy or medication. Sensorimotor Therapy and Somatic Processing Therapy use movement, posture and sensations to help locate and shift emotions on a physical level in order to create internal feelings of safety and control. 

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) uses a controlled dose of a psychedelic medication, administered by a medical professional, to create experiences that are then processed with a therapist to help individuals radically shift their perceptions of themselves and their past experiences.     

Help is out there    

While attitudes are changing and more men are seeking counseling than before, many are still resistant to or unsure of seeking out help. This June I encourage you to take a moment and take stock of your own needs. If you have been considering counseling or think it could be helpful, I encourage you to reach out and learn more about the many different options available. There is nothing weak about wanting to be happy, healthy, and confident.    

Celebrating Pride Month in Rural New Hampshire: a How-To Guide

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By Emma Van Ness, PhD, LCMHC

Note: This post uses the term “queer” as a blanket term for all people under the LGBTQ umbrella, the “Q” in LGBTQ.

As a therapist who identifies as and works with LGBTQ+ individuals, I often encounter the dilemma of loneliness that happens with us rural queers; we frequently feel both protected and alienated by our natural surroundings and small communities, relatively safe but also out of step in some way, like we stick out but also add color and vibrancy to what can be a fairly monotone landscape. This can be particularly true in June, when the Pride Flag goes up on the Plymouth Common but otherwise, life continues as is. There is no riotous community taking up space, no local pride events, just rainbow text on the headers of our favorite corporate overlords’ websites. How truly… alienating…

This is a reminder that Pride began as a riot 1 . The Stonewall Inn, locus of the 1969 Stonewall Riots, sparked the Gay Rights Movement, and there is no better time than the present to lean into that collective energy than now. So saddle up, queers! It is time to make Pride Month one you will remember. Here are a few ways to make Pride a celebration of LGBTQ+ identities in concrete ways beyond the pink-washing of corporate logos.

SUPPORT LGBTQ-OWNED BUSINESSES:

The Live Free or Die State has many businesses that are owned by and serve as hubs for LGBTQ life; it is true that many are found in urban centers of the state, such as Manchester, Concord, and Dover but there are several in Plymouth, Littleton, and North Conway. Teatotaller in Concord is a wonderful, and colorful, coffee shop on Main St. Both the Concord location and its sister location in Dover are owned by Emmett Soldati, an active voice in the LGBTQ Community and local politics. Penumbra in Concord offers “make your own” classes and advice for those of us who have houseplants and aspire to have green thumbs. Slim Pickin’s in Littleton is an LGBTQ-owned dive bar with karaoke and theme night. And in Plymouth, Turnage Barber Shop is a gender-affirming space offering wonderful cuts across the spectrum of gender presentations. This is just a sampling of LGBTQ businesses in the state! If you’d like to put your money where your mouth is during Pride Month, download the “Everywhere is Queer” app to see a map of LGBTQ businesses across the state. There are more than you might expect so no need to feel pigeonholed to go to that same coffee shop or corporate big box store you’ve been going to; branch out and try something new!

SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY WITH ADVOCACY

This is also why there is no “Straight Pride,” because heterosexual sex has never been criminalized and persecuted to the extent that gay sex and relationships have. Pride is about visibility and being seen, about taking up space because as the AIDS epidemic proved to us, “Silence = Death.”

At a time when our community is under attack, it is more important than ever to show support for each other. Volunteer with a crisis hotline, donate clothes or organize a swap with your friends, or use the 5 Calls app to engage in political advocacy. There are several local organizations you can reach out to or support that are already in this fight so you don’t have to do it by yourself. Each of these organizations is well-established so give what you can, whether that be donating money, time, or spreading the word, getting involved and getting your friends involved is what Pride is all about.

ACLU New Hampshire https://www.aclu-nh.org/en

603 Equality https://603equality.org/

NH Outright https://nhcje.org/blog/new-hampshire-outright-supporting-lgbtq-youth-

through-community-and-advocacy

GLAD Law NH https://www.gladlaw.org/locations/new-hampshire/

New Hampshire Woman’s Foundation https://nhwomensfoundation.org/

Kent Street Coalition https://kentstreetcoalition.org/

Planned Parenthood Action https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/

Indivisible Plymouth NH https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/788052/

Equality Health Center https://equalityhc.org/

Gibson’s Bookstore https://gibsonsbookstore.com/

If we have learned anything since Stonewall, it is that when we stand together, we are more powerful than we are alone. Working together for a shared cause is not only good

for your soul; it is a way of stepping into your power.

ATTEND A PRIDE EVENT

While it may mean a bit of a drive, there are Pride Events happening all over the Granite State. Our friends at Planned Parenthood New Hampshire have put together a

comprehensive list of pride events here: https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/planned-parenthood-new-hampshire-action-fund/blog/2025-ppnhaf-pride-guide

There is at least one Pride-related event every weekend so get out there! Pink Pony Club it up, friends! It is wonderful to be surrounded by friends and community and Pride

events are SO fun; do yourself a favor and lean into these opportunities to experience queer joy!

Resources:

https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/688063d3176311f3b2ee6c14f02bf4e4/rtc-maternal-health.pdf

https://www.hopeonhavenhill.org/momhub/