Problems Treated
At Evolution Psychology Center we know that everyone experiences challenges and difficulties in life. Sometimes these hard times can be overwhelming, and we may lack the tools, coping strategies and self-compassion necessary to manage or overcome them, or we may simply not know where to turn.
At these times it can be helpful to talk with or benefit from the services of a trained professional. Someone who can help you with the goal of reducing and eliminating your negative symptoms, preventing future re-occurrences, improving your overall well-being, and promoting success, and satisfaction in your life.
Evolution Psychology Center can help you transform your life. We offer treatment for adults and adolescents for the following difficulties, among others:
ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is one of the most common childhood disorders. ADHD was formerly called ADD, or attention deficit disorder. Both children and adults can have ADHD, but symptoms always begin in childhood. However, many adults will be diagnosed later in life as symptoms can go unaddressed or overlooked in childhood.
The symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder vary from person to person, but consist of some combination of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
Inattention
People who are inattentive have a hard time keeping their mind focused on one thing at a time, and may get bored with a task after only a few minutes. Focusing conscious, deliberate attention to organizing and completing routine tasks may be difficult. Which is why some lose track of things or forget things easily. Patterns of restlessness, procrastination, problems remembering obligations, trouble staying seated during meetings or activities, or starting multiple projects at the same time but rarely finishing them are common observations as well.
Hyperactivity
People who are hyperactive always seem to be in motion, can’t sit still and/or may dash around, fidget, or talk incessantly.
Children with ADHD are unable to sit still and pay attention in class. They may roam around the room, squirm in their seats, wiggle their feet, touch everything or noisily tap a pencil.
Adolescents with ADHD may feel intensely restless.
Impulsivity
People who are overly impulsive may seem unable to think before they act. As a result, they may blurt out answers to questions, say inappropriate comments or run into the street without looking.
In children, impulsivity may make it difficult for them to wait for things they want or to take their turn in games. They may grab a toy from another child or hit when they are upset. They often have difficulty making and keeping friends.
It is estimated that 4-5% of adults have ADHD, however many adults with ADHD do not realize that they have this condition.
Adults with ADHD often find it hard to stay focused or to prioritize, they find themselves missing deadlines and forgetting meetings or social events. They can also have trouble controlling impulses – anything from impatience when waiting in line or driving in traffic, to mood swings and outbursts of anger.
Adult ADHD symptoms, although similar to those presented among children, look slightly different. These include:
- Restlessness – constant fidgeting, movement, or shifting positions
- Forgetfulness – losing belongings or missing important deadlines
- Procrastination
- Intense multitasking, with the inability to complete any single task
- Hyper fixation – temporary “obsession” with a particular concept or thing, until moving onto another one
- Extreme talkativeness and interrupting others – for fear that they may forget their thought
- Impatience
Although ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder, one that must be identified through neurological testing, therapy has proven to be beneficial in managing symptoms of ADHD.
At Evolution Psychology Center, we offer screening for ADHD and can provide psychotherapy to address conditions that sometimes occur with this condition, such as anxiety or depression. We can also help you make ADHD-friendly choices in family and relationships, help you improve communication and listening skills, and teach you how to deal with stress.
Please note that at this time, we do not offer a full battery of tests for formal ADHD assessment. We offer screening for ADHD and refer for a more thorough evaluation if needed.
Alcohol & Drug Abuse
Alcohol and Drug Abuse (also known as Substance Abuse) is a general term that refers to the misuse of alcohol or drugs in a way that creates negative consequences for yourself and, potentially, for others. Substance abuse presents along a spectrum that ranges from occasional misuse to dependency.
Early warning signs of a substance abuse disorder often begin with short-term repercussions, such as hangovers, missing work or school, or weekend binges. Because our society normalizes these substance-induced consequences, far too many people wait until more long-term implications of their misuse arise before seeking professional help. These problems may include difficulties at work, legal and financial trouble, relationship problems, and health concerns such as liver disease.
Addiction has become a taboo subject, one that comes with many misconceptions and much stigmatization. The media glamorizes alcohol and drugs, while at the same time portraying alcoholics and drug addicts as disreputable and derelict. In reality, addiction does not discriminate. Substance abuse is quite common and can afflict any type of person, regardless of their socioeconomic status or background – and more often than not, people who struggle with addiction suffer alone in silence.
Do you:
- Experience blackouts?
- Suffer physical symptoms such as hang-overs, headaches, upset stomach, or fatigue due to drug or alcohol consumption?
- Struggle to say “no” to drugs or alcohol? Do you have difficulty stopping the use of alcohol or drugs once you’ve started?
- Miss days of work, school, family events, or other appointments because of alcohol or drug use?
- Use alcohol or drugs to cope with stress or life situations?
- Face negative consequences at school, work, or home as a result of your drinking/drug use?
- Notice others telling you that you might have a substance use problem?
If you answered “yes” to several of these questions you may be misusing substances and may also be on the road to developing an addiction. However, you are not alone, and we encourage you to seek help before it gets worse.
At Evolution Psychology Center, we can help evaluate the severity of your drug and alcohol use. We can support you through individual, couple, and family therapy. Several of our psychologists have experience and are trained in assessment and support for substance abuse and addiction. Our psychologists’ specialties focus on maintaining long-term sobriety and relapse-prevention.
Please note that we do not offer detoxification clinics or in-patient rehabilitation services.
A substance use disorder is more than a physical dependence on drugs or alcohol. Even after detox, when your body is no longer dependent, you remain at risk for relapse. Certain psychological and social factors can be powerful triggers that lead to relapse:
- Geographical: establishments where you would formerly use
- Social: peers who use, celebrations where substances are present, etc.
- Personal: stress, grief, loss, etc.
These circumstances can create a strong ongoing urge to use again but they can be anticipated and prepared for through psychotherapy. By putting your recovery first, you can prioritize yourself and regain the strength required to manage what life throws at you, without drugs or alcohol. We can help.
Anxiety
Anxiety is described as a state of apprehension and worry that something bad or unpleasant is about to happen. It is not the same as stress or fear.
To clarify, Stress is an external factor that can cause psychological and physical strain. Stress is what happens when something disturbs your equilibrium or causes a change to happen. It can be positive or negative, short term or chronic. Fear is an external factor that is life threatening. It is an emotional response to a known or definite threat. By contrast, Anxiety is the result of internal tensions. It is a feeling of worry or dread that is not a direct reaction to a specific external cause. It is an emotional response to an imprecise or unknown threat.
Anxiety occurs with a range of physical symptoms that can, in themselves be disturbing. Symptoms can range from mild, such as feeling uncomfortable and tense, to moderate, like shortness of breath and fearfulness. Severe symptoms of anxiety include feeling panic or tightness and pain in the chest, occasionally causing people to feel like they are going “crazy” or having a heart attack.
These symptoms are often sudden and highly uncomfortable, which is why you should consider seeking treatment if they persist.
Do you ever:
- Feel like your heart is racing or experience pains in your chest, sweating and/or shaking?
- Feel as if you are losing control or going crazy?
- Feel like you worry all the time or more than the average person
- Feel fearful, apprehensive, or panicky even when there is nothing scary happening?
- Have racing thoughts and cannot settle your mind?
- Find it difficult to relax?
- Notice increased physical complaints such as headaches, an upset stomach, or chronic muscle tension?
- Have difficulties falling or staying asleep?
If you answered “yes” to several of the above questions, you may be suffering from chronic anxiety or an anxiety disorder. You are not alone. Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent mental health problems experienced by Canadians. 10.4 – 24.9% will experience an anxiety disorder in their lifespan.
Evolution Psychology Center provides effective treatment for anxiety management and prevention. Anxiety Disorders are highly treatable, and you don’t need to suffer with anxiety any longer. Contact us, we can help.
Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder
A panic attack is characterized as a sudden attack of terror accompanied with physical symptoms such as intense heart palpitations, tightness or pain in the chest, numbness or tingling in the arms and fingers, shortness of breath, light-headedness, dizziness, and faintness.
Individuals who experience panic attacks also often display negative emotional and cognitive symptoms such as fear of losing control and thoughts about impending doom. These symptoms can last seconds to several minutes. “I thought I was having a heart attack” and “I thought I was going to die“ are common sentiments expressed by individuals who have experienced a panic attack. Every year countless individuals seek emergency medical attention believing they may have a heart or physical condition, only to discover they have had a panic attack or are suffering from panic disorder.
Many people experience panic attacks in their lives. This is not the same as Panic Disorder, which is characterized by a series of panic attacks as well as persistent worry (getting anxious about having panic attacks) or changes in behaviour (avoiding people, places, and things that might trigger a panic attack). Panic Disorder can also exist with Agoraphobia, which is the fear of open spaces or places where escape may be difficult. Those with Agoraphobia often avoid going out for fear of getting trapped. Panic Disorder occurs in 3.7% of the Canadian population.
Evolution Psychology Center provides assessment and effective treatment for Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder. We can help you gain control over your anxiety instead of having it control you.
Assertiveness
Not being assertive can lead to low satisfaction in your relationships. You may be experiencing frustration, low self esteem and struggling with feeling invisible and disrespected. Lack of assertiveness can also lead to increased negative emotions and behaviours such as anger, aggression, and hostility. Not being able to get your needs met creates a build-up of resentment against others and, potentially, explosive outbursts or arguments.
Evolution Psychology Center can help you develop greater assertiveness and confidence as you realize it is possible get your needs met while still respecting the needs and rights of others.
Do you struggle to know and voice your needs?
Is it hard for you to stand up for yourself?
Do you limit your social contact to avoid conflict?
Do you avoid conflict?
Assertiveness is a skill that helps us maintain equal, healthy relationships, resolve interpersonal conflict, get our needs met and encourages us to stand up for our personal values and wellbeing.
Examples of assertive behaviour include refusing unreasonable requests, asking another person to behave differently, saying “no”, communicating clearly how an event or situation has made you feel (positive and negative), expressing an opinion, or pursuing one’s personal goals.
People experiencing emotional difficulties often struggle to act assertively. For instance, if you experience anxiety, you may be quite submissive fearing the consequences of conflict, hurting someone, or being disliked if you try to express yourself.
Boundaries
Is it hard for you to say “No”, even when you can’t or don’t want to do something?
Do you feel taken advantage of?
Do you “absorb” other people feelings as if they were your own?
Setting boundaries is an important part of establishing one’s identity, building healthy relationships, and is a crucial aspect of mental health and wellbeing.
Boundaries can be physical, emotional, spiritual, and sexual. They can range from being too loose to overly rigid, with healthy boundaries lying somewhere in between. A complete lack of boundaries may indicate that one doesn’t have a strong identity – that you don’t really know who you are, or what you want in life and/or are too enmeshed with someone else. Whereas if your boundaries are too rigid it can lead to isolation and loneliness. Healthy boundaries create a sense of self, safety, and connection with others.
At Evolution Psychology Center, we can help you learn about your boundaries and how to develop healthy ones in relationships and within yourself. We can help.
Burnout
Burnout is emotional, cognitive, and physical exhaustion in response to high and prolonged levels of stress. This is not the same as a couple of bad days or weeks at school or at work. The taxing effects of burnout results in a lack of motivation or interest caused by feeling overwhelmed and unable to meet constant or unrealistic expectations.
Perhaps you or someone you know has fallen into a negative mindset, making everyday feel like a bad day. Dreading work, perpetual exhaustion, and the sense that your efforts are underappreciated are all indications of a burnout. Coupled with this is a growing feeling of resentment toward your employer, coworkers, or daily commitments. You might even notice that your professional dissatisfaction has taken a toll on your relationships – the effects of work bleeding into your personal life.
Do you feel:
- That every day is a bad day?
- Dread about going into work?
- Exhausted all the time?
- Unappreciated and overworked?
- Overwhelmed with all the things you have to do?
- Over-committed with responsibilities?
- Uncertain about what your professional role is or what it is that you’re supposed to be doing?
- Concerned about job security?
- Resentful about work or daily commitments?
- Like you have less motivation to do your job well?
- Your personal or work relationships have been affected by these feelings?
If you answered ‘yes’ to several questions you may be suffering from burnout. You are not alone, and it can get better. Seeking psychotherapy can help you recover from and prevent a future burnout from occurring. We can help.
Workaholism
Do you find it difficult to think about anything besides work?
Are you prioritizing work over other important areas of your life?
Although it is admirable for one to be dedicated to and invested in their job, occasionally we can fall into an unhealthy pattern in which work becomes our only interest and priority. Workaholism is defined as an addiction to one’s work, which may bring about numerous adverse consequences, such as strained relationships, mental illness, burnout, and physical health concerns.
Do you or a loved one notice:
- You think of ways to clear up more time in your schedule for extra work
- You spend more time on a work-related task than initially intended or is even necessary
- You work in order to lessen feelings of guilt or inadequacy
- Others have advised you to lessen your work hours
- The idea of not being able to work is stressful and anxiety-provoking for you
- You de-prioritize other areas of your life such as hobbies, relationships, leisure activities, friends, family, or exercise because of your work
- Your excessive working has had a negative impact on your relationships, your emotional, or your physical health
If this sounds like you, you may be suffering with workaholism. Many of us feel as though we have no option other than to continue through the never-ending cycle of working, constantly completing and replacing tasks to fill our discomfort. But please know that there is hope for those of you who feel chained to your jobs, and that soon you will be able to improve and repair relationships that may have been wounded by your unhealthy work habits.
Evolution Psychology Center provides effective assessment and treatment for workaholism, and through our work together you will create space for more pleasure in your life and a healthier work/play/rest balance.
Codependency
The American Psychological Association (APA) defines codependency, in part, as “the state of being mutually reliant” and “a dysfunctional relationship pattern in which an individual is psychologically dependent on (or controlled by) a person who has a pathological condition (e.g., alcohol, gambling).”
Put simply, codependency in a relationship is when a person is mentally, emotionally, physically, and/or spiritually reliant on the other. A codependent relationship can exist between romantic partners, but also with family members and friends.
Codependent relationships are thus constructed around an inequity of power that promotes the needs of the ‘taker’. This leaves the ‘giver’ to keep on giving, often at the sacrifice of themselves.
There are several signs of codependency. If you experience any of the following, you might be the ‘giver’ in a codependent relationship:
- Having a sense of “walking on eggshells” to avoid conflict with the other person
- Feeling the need to check in with the other person and/or ask permission
- Often being the one who apologizes – even if you have done nothing wrong
- Feeling sorry for or making excuses for the other person, even when they hurt you
- Regularly trying to change or rescue troubled, addicted, or under-functioning people whose problems go beyond one person’s ability to fix
- Doing anything for the other person, even if it makes you feel uncomfortable
- Putting the other person on a pedestal, despite the fact that they don’t merit this position
- A need for other people to like you in order to feel good about yourself
- Struggling to find any time for yourself, especially if your free time consistently goes to the other person
- Feeling as if you’ve lost a sense of yourself within the relationship
While everyone has loved ones and feels responsible for them, it can be unhealthy when your identity is contingent upon someone else.
When we are codependent, we often form one-sided relationships that are emotionally destructive, and/or abusive. In this dynamic, the ‘giver’ tends to lose their true sense of self. Even if the giver doesn’t feel this way immediately – they likely enjoy giving their love and being relied upon – it can develop to unhealthy degrees.
Givers can also find themselves trapped in the relationship since they might feel the other person relies on them so much. On the other hand, the taker will feel so reliant on the giver that they can have difficulty leaving this toxic relationship as well.
Evolution Psychology Center can help you better understand and break codependent patterns, and develop healthy, authentic relationships in your life. We can help.
Depression
Do you feel chronically sad, dissatisfied, or depressed? Everyone feels down, has bad days, and goes through tough times. Feeling negative emotions is a natural part of being human, and it happens to all of us. However, feeling ‘down’ is not synonymous with depression.
Depression is a mood disorder that affects 8% of Canadians at some point in their lifespan. It is a general state of low or sad mood and a loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed. Life becomes flat and grey, and nothing seems fun, exciting, or enjoyable anymore. These depressed states can range from mild in intensity with feelings of sadness and low energy to very intense, such as withdrawal from others, a state of numbness and at times, thoughts of death or suicide. Depression changes how people feel about themselves, others, and the world around them, with emotional, cognitive, and physical symptoms that are experienced everyday for at least two weeks.
Depression can affect anybody, at any age, any gender, any financial situation, and across any culture or religion. Although depression does not discriminate, there is a disproportionate higher amount of depression among marginalized groups in Canada and worldwide due to social factors. About 6.5% of Canadian youths aged 15-24 and approximately 7% of seniors over age 65 experience depression each year. It is often developed during a time of transition or difficulty in life.
Have you experienced the following for at least two weeks:
- Sad, hopeless, miserable?
- Guilty or worthless?
- Constantly fatigued, unmotivated, or lacking energy?
- Change in your appetite?
- Isolating yourself from others?
- Trouble sleeping? Or sleeping more than usual?
- Difficulty concentrating, paying attention, or making decisions?
- Suicidal thoughts or plans to hurt or yourself
- An increase in physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach upsets, or other problems that were not present before?
If you answered ‘yes’ to several of these questions, you may be suffering from depression. You are not alone.
Evolution Psychology Center provides effective treatment for depression. You don’t need to suffer with depression any longer. We can help.
Grief and Loss
Grief is the normal process we experience after a loss, whether that be of a person, relationship, or the loss of something important to us. Often, we think that grief is reserved only in the instance of a death, however, any change in our lives can result in a loss that may cause us to grieve. In addition to the death of a loved one, the loss of a pet, moving to a new place, changing jobs, changing schools, graduating, a break-up or divorce, a miscarriage, infertility, as well as the loss of a part of ourselves are all examples when we may experience grief.
Grief can be painful, but it is necessary in order to process and cope with a loss. It is a natural reaction, which we usually pass through and heal from. Grief is a healing process. It has a beginning, middle, and end. Even if painful, moving through this process allows us to heal and grow. Grief naturally occurs at times in the psychotherapy process as we grow and evolve and let go.
In our current time and society, we do not allow space for grieving to occur. We are expected to return to regular life after a short period and we are also expected not to talk too much out our grief. You may hear expressions like “get over it”, “still?”, and “it’s over already, suck it up”. This can complicate our grief process and not allow it to take it’s natural and healthy course. Grief is hard enough as it is.
At Evolution Psychology Center we understand the effect of loss and can help you cope with the effects of grief. There is hope. We can help.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
On occasion, we all check to make sure we’ve locked the door or turned off the stove, even if we are fairly certain that it’s already been done. We also all have worries or thoughts that pop into our minds that can be difficult to get rid of. This, is not the same as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
OCD is an anxiety disorder that occurs when a person has uncontrollable, recurring, unwanted thoughts (Obsessions) and or repetitive, ritualized behaviours they feel compelled to perform (Compulsions). Individuals with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can recognize that their obsessive thoughts are irrational but feel incapable of stopping them.
Obsessions can range from mild to severe and can include unwanted and intrusive thoughts or fears about contamination (dirt, germs), harm coming to oneself or loved ones, and the fear of something bad happening if things aren’t ordered, in sequence, organized precisely, or thrown away.
Compulsions are rituals performed to reduce the anxiety associated with the obsessive thoughts, such as washing, checking if things are turned off, checking on loved ones, putting things in order, doing and re-doing tasks, accumulating things (hoarding), counting, and more. These rituals are not pleasurable and usually provide only temporary relief from anxiety.
It is not uncommon for obsessions and their related compulsions to cause serious emotional distress to those who suffer from this disorder. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder occurs in 2% of the Canadian population.
Evolution Psychology Center provides assessment and effective treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. You are not alone, and there is hope to regain control over the OCD symptoms. We can help.
People Pleasing
Do you have a hard time saying no to people?
Do you find yourself constantly over-extending yourself for others at the cost of your own well-being?
Are you concerned whether or not people like you?
If so, you may have some ‘people-pleasing’ tendencies. Although it is admirable to perform good deeds for others, to be a good friend, and to do favors for the people you care about, trouble arises when your own well-being comes secondary to the happiness of others. If you are a ‘people pleaser’ you may find yourself being taken advantage of by the individuals in your life. You may feel as though some of your own needs are not being met, and in turn you may become resentful toward these one-way, non-reciprocal relationships. This can lead to various negative consequences, such as caregiver burnout and other emotional disturbances. By breaking the negative people-pleasing cycle, you may fear that you are letting people down by giving up that kind, generous persona you strongly identify with.
These are some common traits associated with People Pleasing. See if any of these sound like you:
- Worrying about letting people down or hurting their feelings if you say ‘no’
- Feeling resentful, taken advantage of, or like a ‘doormat’ in relationships
- Rarely asking for or accepting help from others and feeling guilty if you do
- Believing yourself to be beneath others
- Avoiding giving yourself credit for your accomplishments
- Frequent apologizing, even when not at fault or an apology is not in order
- Strong discomfort with confrontation
- Unconditionally kind and helpful towards everyone, even individuals you may not particularly like
- Non-reciprocal giving by continuing to do favours for individuals who do not return the sentiment
- Reliable, responsible, and dependable
- Feeling stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed by the demands you place upon yourself
- Potential lack of trust in the goodness or competence of others
- Overextending yourself to make someone happy, meet their needs, or avoid confrontation, even if it impedes on your own needs
- Putting yourself ‘last’ on your ‘to-do list’
If you identify with any of these points, you may be struggling with people pleasing. If you find that your desire to please others is affecting your own health and well-being, we can help.
Perfectionism
Do you procrastinate or avoid tasks for fear that your performance won’t live up to your standards?
Do you obsess over details others may consider insignificant?
Do you have very high or impossible standards and expectations?
It is natural to put a lot of care and attention to detail into the things we care about, but for some individuals, an emphasis on perfection can have serious negative consequences on their health and well-being. Perfectionism is characterized by a desire for flawlessness and/or attaining often unrealistic performance standards in any area of life. ‘Perfectionists’ are highly critical of themselves and at times others, and frequently feel unsatisfied with their results in any number of capacities. If you feel your perfectionistic tendencies are interfering with your everyday life, it may be time to consult with a professional to develop strategies that can help you overcome the obsessive and exhausting pattern of perfectionism.
Do you notice:
- Frequent self-criticism and dissatisfaction with performance others consider good or excellent
- Ruminating over small mistakes you’ve made and an inability to stop thinking about them (ex. 90% on an exam is 10% away from perfect)
- Extreme all-or-nothing thinking: if it isn’t done perfectly, then it isn’t worth any effort at all
- Competitiveness or demanding perfection from others
- Difficulty asking others for support or help
- Concern with having all things in their proper order or place
- Highly anxious and self-conscious about making errors in front of others
- Procrastination of tasks to excuse ‘less than perfect’ performance
- Spending an excessive amount of time on simple or seemingly insignificant tasks
- Obsession with small details others may not notice
This list outlines some of the traits associated with perfectionism. This is not to suggest that one should not take pride in tending to details and doing the best job that they can. We are merely bringing attention to some of the negative consequences that can follow long-term perfectionism, such as anxiety disorders, low self-esteem, and depression.
Evolution Psychology Center can help you overcome the unhealthy consequences of perfectionism.
Trauma
Trauma is an all-too-common experience that occurs when a terrifying experience overwhelms our existing ability to cope, protect, or survive. Although traumatic experiences can occur at any age, gender, culture, and socioeconomic status, some communities are disproportionately represented among those experiencing trauma. Members of vulnerable populations, members not of the cultural majority, people of culture, those struggling with homelessness, economic stress, and LGBTQIA2S+ communities are be exposed to traumatic experiences at higher rates.
Trauma is an emotional and physical response from circumstances, an event or series of events that are harmful or life threatening and have the potential to result in lasting negative effects on one’s physical, mental, social, emotional or spiritual well-being.
“Trauma is when we have encountered an out of control, frightening experience that has disconnected us from all sense of resourcefulness or safety or coping or love”.
(Tara Brach, 2011)
A traumatic event can involve a single experience, enduring, or repeated events, that completely overwhelm the individual’s ability to cope or integrate the ideas and emotions involved in that experience. Traumatic experiences can include physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Traumatic events can be related to an accident, natural disaster, combat, assault, inconsistent parenting, childhood neglect or abuse, and witnessing or experiencing violence. They can result from racial trauma, intergenerational trauma, ableism, colonial trauma, vicarious trauma, community violence, relational trauma, intimate partner trauma, and adverse childhood experiences (ACE’s).
A single episode of a life-threatening event can lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Adversity or distress experienced in childhood can develop into Developmental Trauma. Repeated, enduring traumas starting in childhood and developing PTSD symptoms are known as Complex Trauma (or C-PTSD).
During a traumatic experience we might feel very frightened, hopeless, or helpless. We might believe that we are going to suffer severe injury or die. Some people may ‘freeze’, collapse or dissociate. These are coping reactions, induced by our mind and body, designed to help us survive. Trauma can result in a wide variety of symptoms, experiences, and behaviours that continue to occur after the traumatic event is over.
Symptoms post-trauma can be powerful both physically and emotionally, and can feel particularly disturbing such as:
- Feelings of fear and anxiety, including body feelings of physiological activation.
- Flashbacks and unwanted memories of the trauma.
- Hypervigilance for potential danger.
- Negative beliefs about other people and their intentions, resulting in caution and difficulty trusting others.
- Efforts to avoid perceived danger.
- Negative beliefs about the self and one’s role in events.
- Dissociative symptoms including detachment, derealisation and depersonalisation.
- Feelings of anger and frustration.
- Difficulty sleeping, including nightmares.
- Somatic discomfort including headaches, upset stomachs, and unexplained pains.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Feelings of sadness, loss, and hopelessness.
Experiencing a traumatic event(s) is difficult, complex, and impacts all aspects of life. It can change how you see the world and yourself and have long lasting effects. There is hope. The world is becoming increasingly trauma informed, and there are many treatment options now available. At Evolution Psychology Center we are trained in and work with all types of traumatic experiences. We work with you to relieve the difficulties you are experiencing because of trauma and move towards growth through and past trauma. We can help.
Developmental Trauma
In the first years of life, infants and toddlers need safe, predictable, accessible, and loving caregivers. All children require consistent attention, attachment, and attunement from their caregivers. In this environment the brain develops in a healthy predictable sequence of growth. Healthy-enough and well attuned-enough early childhood experiences lead to the development of safety and security, allowing a continued safe and secure development into later childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
When this well attuned, safe, and secure child-caregiver relationship doesn’t occur consistently and predictably Developmental Trauma may develop. When a child is exposed to overwhelming stress and their caregiver does not help reduce this stress, or is the cause of the stress, the child experiences Developmental Trauma. Developmental Trauma describes childhood trauma such as chronic abuse, chronic misattunement, neglect, or other harsh adversity in their own homes. (See ACE study on Adverse Childhood Experiences for further information or find out your ACE score https://acestoohigh.com/got-your-ace-score/).
- Parent/Caregiver with untreated Substance Abuse problem
- Parent/caregiver with untreated mental health disorder
- Intergenerational trauma
- Witnessing intimate partner violence
- High parental conflict
- Divorce/separation
- Parental/caregiver abandonment
- Emotional, psychological, physical, sexual abuse
- Parental/caregiver neglect
- Chronic attachment rupture without sufficient adequate repair
- Removal of child from parent/caregiver
- Early childhood separation from parent/caregiver (divorce, removal of child from home, incarceration, hospitalizations)
- Parent/caregiver illness
- Not feeling loved
- Economic stress resulting in lack of food, clothing, shelter
- Rigid belief systems of the world, self, and others:
- I am not loveable and/or I am bad
- I am not good enough
- I don’t deserve (love, compliments, health, success)
- I am only valuable (in service to others, if I am being productive, if I please others…)
- I am unsafe and/or the world is unsafe
- Toxic Stress: excessive activation of the nervous system creating wear and tear on the body and the brain
- Relationship difficulties such as feeling isolated, disconnected, avoiding relationships and/or spiraling without a partner, dependency, and codependency, and trauma bonding (partnering with people that are unhealthy for you)
- Deep seated shame
- Emotional regulation difficulties
- Feeling too intensely or not enough (numbing)
- Dissociation
- Feeling hopeless or powerless
- Perfectionism
- People Pleasing
- Development of Complex Trauma (C-PTSD)
- Development of mental health related issues such as anxiety, depression, PTSD
- Development of physical health related issues such as chronic inflammatory response, digestive problems, obesity, respiratory illness, overall malaise or un-wellness, chronic stress,highblood pressure, cardiac issues, illness etc. ( https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/aces/index.html )
PTSD
Have you experienced or witnessed a traumatic event?
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychological response to intense traumatic events, particularly those that are life-threatening such as natural disasters, accidents, being a victim or witness of a crime, military combat, abuse, etc.
Trauma affects each individual differently, however for some, the consequences of witnessing a traumatic event can be excruciating and debilitating. The constant barrage of memories, visions, or re-enactments of a particular event can haunt us.
PTSD can affect people of any age, culture, and gender. It is a human response to a life-threatening event. Having even one occurrence to trauma in the past increases the risk of developing PTSD if a later traumatic event occurs. As such, those with a history of developmental trauma, adverse childhood and adverse community experiences are more like to develop PTSD after a future trauma. Those with a previous history of trauma, those working in military or front-line jobs, refugees, those who belong to any vulnerable or marginalized communities are at an increased risk of developing a Post Traumatic Stress Response. It occurs in 8% of the Canadian population.
Trauma is person specific, meaning that what is traumatic to one person may not be to another. As such, PTSD can be expressed in several ways as a result of various circumstances.
Are you experiencing any of the following symptoms?
- Nightmares
- Flashbacks (reliving the event)
- Physical symptoms such as sweating, increased heart rate, or muscle tension
- Actively avoiding any reminders of the trauma (like staying away from certain places or people)
- Gaps in memory – forgetting parts of the experience
- Feeling cut-off or detached (from yourself or others)
- Dissociation
- Difficulty sleeping (falling or staying asleep)
- Anger and irritability
- Difficulty with concentration
- Hyper-vigilance or feeling afraid that you might be in danger
- On edge, jumpy, or easily startled
If you answered ‘yes’ to several of these questions, you may have developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
At Evolution Psychology Center we understand how tough struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can be. You are not alone, you don’t have to suffer longer, we are here, and we can help.
Cultivating Growth after Trauma – Post Trauma Growth
Healing from trauma can take time and work, but throughout this process a positive shift can happen that facilitates growth and transformation — this experience is known as Post-Traumatic Growth.
Post Traumatic Growth is the positive psychological change that some people experience after a life crisis or traumatic experience or upbringing. It is the positive personal changes that result from a survivor’s struggle to deal with trauma. It doesn’t negate the trauma that occurred, rather it occurs through the healing process.
According to the Post Traumatic Growth Inventory, survivors of trauma can recognize and embrace new opportunities (new possibilities), they can build stronger relationships (improved relationships with others), cultivate inner strength from the process of healing and overcoming suffering and hardship (personal strength), may gain a deeper appreciation for life (greater appreciation for life), and develop a different sense of meaning (spiritual change).
Post Traumatic Growth is not resiliency or returning to pre-trauma levels of functioning, rather it is a sense of personal change and evolution out of adversity. A phoenix that rises from the ashes.
Working through traumatic experience(s), be it PTSD, Developmental, or C-PTSD, will help reduce the negative impacts of trauma on your entire being (emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual). It will also help you grow through the trauma, creating positive changes in your life. We are here to help you work through these difficult experiences.
Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD)
Complex Trauma or Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) describes the emotional, mental, and physical experience of multiple, prolonged, and repetitive adverse traumatic events that occur in childhood and continue over time. Most often these traumatic events are interpersonal in nature, meaning harm to you caused by another person. These harms result in betrayal and a loss of safety.
PTSD is typically associated with exposure to a single traumatic event whereas C-PTSD is associated with trauma and interrelation trauma that is repeated or occurs over a long period of time. Developmental trauma occurs in childhood, but does not develop PTSD symptoms, rather it creates significant shifts in sense of self, others, and belief systems. C-PTSD is its own set of experiences and can be thought of having components of both PTSD and Developmental Trauma.
All children require safe people, places, and things during development for healthy brain development. Many adult survivors of complex trauma experienced a significant loss of safety and lack of control over their environment or what happened to them growing up. Without a sense of safety and ability to make sense of what happened to them, adult survivors may develop symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (avoidance, re-experiencing, hypervigilance) along with other struggles such as:
- Chronic mistrust
- Body memories
- Dissociation
- Amnesia regarding traumatic events
- Emotional Dysregulation
- Difficulty managing emotions and behaviours
- Bouts of rage
- Emotional Flashbacks – intense feelings originally felt during the trauma such as fear, shame, and despair
- Disturbance in self-perception – negative sense of self, self-loathing, guilt, and shame
- Fluctuating perception of the person that harmed you – idealizing them, rationalizing “they did the best they could”, and loathing and wanting revenge
- Loss of meaning
- Toxic shame
- Chronic stress
- Relationship problems – avoidance of, difficulty connecting, creating intense relationships, enmeshment, codependency, re-enacting the trauma relationship, trauma bonding
- Health problems
- Physical symptoms of traumatic stress (psychosomatic symptoms) – chest pain, digestive complaints, migraines
- Risk of anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and substance abuse
These C-PTSD experiences can vary in duration and intensity and are generally more severe and chronic than those of PTSD alone. Complex Trauma can make you feel like you’re crazy or there is something wrong with you. At Evolution Psychology Center, we are sensitive the nature of childhood trauma and how it impacts you as an adult. You are not crazy, and you are not alone. You are having a normal reaction to an abnormal situation(s). There is hope and a road to healing Complex Trauma. We can help.
Psychosomatic Complaints (Mind/Body Connection)
What is a Psychosomatic Complaint?
The term ‘Psychosomatic’ refers to both our ‘psyche,’ the mind, and ‘soma,’ the body. Psychosomatic complaints are characterized as physical reactions or symptoms resulting from psychological difficulties such as depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, resentment, grief, and anger. These could come in the form of digestive complaints, chronic pain, headaches or migraines, chest pain, muscle weakness or tremors, chronic fatigue, autoimmune conditions (eczema, psoriasis, disorders of the skin), hair loss, infertility, and more.
If you are unsure about the root cause of a physical ailment you are suffering from, and your efforts to find relief have been unsuccessful thus far, your concern may be psychosomatic. Oftentimes, traditional medicine fails to recognize the impact of traumatic events and other psychological conditions on our physical health.
Evolution Psychology Center provides a holistic and effective psychological treatment for a variety of psychosomatic complaints. We value the mind-body connection and understand the importance of exploring how our physical health reflects our emotional wellbeing. Together, we can explore the causes of your symptoms and provide you with long-term relief from them.
Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is the opinion you have of yourself.
When you have healthy self-esteem, you tend to think positively about yourself, and optimistically about life in general. You know that are valuable and can name several positive qualities such as “I am kind”, “I am honest”, or “I am a good parent”.
Low self-esteem is characterized as a negative sense of the self. Negative self-evaluation is common, and low self-esteem can develop because of other primary conditions such as anxiety, depression, childhood adversity or trauma.
When you have low self-esteem, you tend to see yourself and your future more negatively and critically. It makes you doubt your ability to tackle life’s challenges or even to connect and be respected by others. You might talk to yourself harshly in your mind, telling yourself things like “You’re so stupid”, “You’ll never be able manage this”, or “What’s the point, nobody cares”.
Do you have a tendency to put yourself down or to undervalue yourself?
Do you feel like life is filled with challenges you can’t tackle because you are not good/strong enough?
Do you only aim low because you don’t believe you deserve better?
Are you stuck in an unfulfilling job and/or an unsatisfactory relationship because you are simply grateful someone would hire you or have you in their life?
Negative self-beliefs contribute to conditions such as depression or social anxiety because they make you feel constantly inadequate and that outcomes will always be disappointing, if not a total failure.
Evolution Psychology Center provides can help you develop a healthy sense of self and positive self esteem. You don’t have to stay stuck in this negative mindset, we can help.
Stress Management
Do you feel stressed or overwhelmed?
We’ve all experienced the challenges of meeting life’s demands: Beating deadlines, awaiting test results, familial obligations, work pressures, staying on time, and feeling like there aren’t enough hours in the day are some of the more common examples of daily stressors.
Stress is a natural reaction to demands that are placed upon us. In small doses, stress helps us perform under pressure and motivates us to perform our best. However, if it becomes constant and stress starts to run our lives, it can be harmful by decreasing our concentration, performance, and strength as well as making us emotionally and physically ill.
Symptoms of a stress overload impact us cognitively, emotionally, and physically. Emotional distress often takes a toll on our bodies, making going about our daily routine significantly more challenging. Some of the symptoms of stress include:
- Feeling overwhelmed, depleted, and fatigued
- Feeling burnt out
- Feeling hurried or constantly pressured, like there aren’t enough hours in a day
- Inability to relax
- Constant worrying
- Trouble concentrating and focusing
- Psychosomatic complaints such as headaches, aches and pains, diarrhea or constipation, allergic reactions, eczema, heartburn etc
- Difficulty sleeping (falling and/or staying asleep)
- Feelings of dissatisfaction, unhappiness, and/or sadness
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you may be experiencing a stress overload. Stress is a common experience, one that many people choose to suffer through in silence. But contrary to what you may think, there are ways to work through this feeling and improve your tolerance of stressful situations. You are not alone. You can benefit from stress management, which will help create positive coping strategies, decrease stress, and have more balance in your life.
Evolution Psychology Center provides effective stress management. You don’t need to suffer with stress any longer, because we are here to help.
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy is a type of somatic, body-oriented talk therapy. It is a holistic approach that draws on the natural wisdom of the body to help heal, adapt, and grow. It pays attention to how your body expresses your inner experiences, developed patterns, joys, and struggles you are living with.
Unlike traditional talk therapies that often focus on thoughts and re-telling of your story, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy is an experiential approach that invites the body’s experience of your story into our work together.
“When words are not enough” – Pat Ogden
Words alone may not be enough to heal. I often hear clients talk about ‘stuck patterns’ and how talking about it hasn’t helped enough. Working with the body can help resolve the stuck-ness and residual patterns that live in the body.
“The Body Keeps the Score” – Bessel van der Kolk
Because the body is a rich source of information and essentially keeps the score of all your experiences, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy will help you become aware of the way that your body holds the issues you have come to therapy to resolve. As it is an experiential approach we will use mindfulness, curiosity, and simple therapeutic experiments to gain a deeper understanding of yourself, your patterns, and to create a path for healing and change.
Therapeutic experiments are vast and creative and can include the therapist or client making different movements or postures, using objects to create boundaries or to interact with different facets of our experiences and ourselves. With your consent, some exercises may include touch, such as reaching out or boundary setting. There are many somatic exercises to regulate the nervous system and create and access resources within the body, such as grounding, centering, aligning, and many more. These experiments together are always collaborative. They help deepen your understanding of yourself and your experience to support your healing, health, and growth.
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy can help on your journey from trauma, developmental and complex trauma, anxiety, depression, and limiting beliefs. We can help.