Trauma Resources

Trauma is an emotional and physical response to experiences that overwhelm our ability to cope or feel safe. These experiences may be single events, ongoing situations, or occur in childhood or adulthood. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) are conditions that can develop when the effects of trauma continue over time, often showing up as flashbacks, hypervigilance, anxiety, emotional numbness, or difficulties with relationships.

Trauma can also shape how other challenges are experienced. It may heighten anxiety, contribute to mood disorders such as depression, complicate the grieving process, or intensify the impact of chronic illness. Understanding these connections can help make sense of symptoms that may feel confusing or overwhelming.

The resources here are designed to support understanding, empowerment, and recovery—offering education, strategies, and tools for grounding, self-compassion, and building resilience. Whether you are personally navigating trauma or supporting someone who is, this page can be a starting place to explore pathways of healing and hope.

This website gives a very detailed description about what PTSD is, and ways it can be managed, commonly asked questions, and a variety of additional resources: https://www.mhanational.org/conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder

For more information on the latest research about PTSD, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is an excellent resource: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml

The VA is an excellent resource for information about what PTSD is, how it is best treated, research, how to cope with it, helping family members understand it, etc. Please keep in mind that there are many forms of trauma that could cause PTSD, not just war trauma: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/

The Blue Bench (formerly RAAP) is an organization that specializes in advocating for victims of sexual assault. They are located in Denver, CO. Their website is a resource for people who have been a victim of sexual assault, have a loved one who has been a victim of sexual assault, or anyone passionate about this issue: https://thebluebench.org/

Sometimes people with trauma and/or PTSD develop addictions. DrugRehab.com is an organization dedicated to providing resources and tools to help people overcome addiction on their road to recovery. Their resources include information on understanding and treating PTSD and other trauma disorders as well as addiction: https://www.drugrehab.com/co-occurring-disorder/ptsd/ 

This is an article that discusses how trauma can affect sleep: https://www.tuck.com/trauma-and-sleep/