Post-Traumatic Stress Derailment: A Trauma Survivor’S Guide to Getting Back on Track

By Afrah Caraballo MSW LCSW

No matter where trauma comes from, its always violent.
It breaks hearts and shatters shields regardless if its caused by an earthquake, fire, flood, hurricane, abuse, a car crash, murder, or something else. Those who suffer from trauma often wonder if theres something wrong with them.

Afrah Caraballo, a licensed clinical social worker specializing in mental and emotional trauma, wants those who suffer to know that there are logical explanations for their feelings and behaviors. She helps caregivers and victims of trauma:
Identify the cause of the problem;
Validate loss and begin the healing process;
Overcome the sense of guilt and shame that hold many hostage.
Youll also discover how to recognize the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and get details on how trauma affects different age groups.
Regardless if youre a clinical social worker, victim of trauma, or caregiver to someone who is suffering, youll find this guide an invaluable tool to helping yourself and others.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jul 9, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491735473

Afrah Caraballo MSW LCSW

Afrah Caraballo, MSW, LCSW is a teacher and healer. A licensed clinical social worker specializing in mental and emotional trauma, she is the clinical director at Family ROCS. Her experiences such as living in Israel and serving in the U.S. Air Force fuel her passion for enlightening and supporting trauma survivors and caregivers. She lives in Colorado Springs.

Book preview

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DERAILMENT

A TRAUMA SURVIVOR’S GUIDE TO

GETTING BACK ON TRACK

Copyright © 2014 Afrah Caraballo MSW, LCSW.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Illustrations by Afrah Caraballo and Robert Zabel

Cover by Afrah and Callysta Caraballo

The information, ideas, and suggestions in this book are not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Before following any suggestions contained in this book, you should consult your personal physician or mental health professional. Neither the author nor the publisher shall be liable or responsible for any loss or damage allegedly arising as a consequence of your use or application of any information or suggestions in this book.

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ISBN: 978-1-4917-3548-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-3547-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014909117

iUniverse rev. date: 06/18/2014

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Definitions

What Is Trauma?

What Does It Mean to Have PTSD?

What Does It Look Like to Have PTSD?

Traumatized Young Children: Ages 0 to 10

Traumatized Adolescent Children: Ages 10 to 14

Traumatized Women: Ages 14 to 104

Traumatized Men: Ages 14 to 104

Understanding the Brain and Body’s Need for Completion

Understanding the Invisible Wounds

What Are Depression, Anxiety, and Anger?

The Courage to Heal

Permission to Heal

Caring for the Healers

Sources

Acknowledgments

T o my Creator, I am eternally grateful for your love and ever-presence. Acceptance is the ability to surrender judgment and receive a gift without dismissing your worthiness. Acceptance is the ability to stand in the light of love knowing you’re worthy. Thanks to Callysta and Kaynen, I have been given the gift of love, and I continue an active and conscious practice of acceptance. This book is an extension of my conscious acceptance of the love and light in my life. Before I gave birth to my first child, I was a wounded rebel. I was willing to save any and all other wounded rebels as long as there was no threat of emotional commitment. It wasn’t until I looked into the eyes of my three-week-old child that I saw how empty and detached I had become from the world and myself. From that moment on, I was on a mission to be worthy of her love and light. Fast-forward four and a half years, and I was the mother of two children. My second child presented me with a different challenge—to be accepting of his love and light. To be open and accepting of unconditional love and light is a sacred gift and a tremendous challenge when love has been distorted and violated.

Thanks to these two amazing gifts, I have been on a fourteen-year journey toward healing. What I now know for sure is that l-o-v-e is the cure for PTSD. My children have taught me the meaning of acceptance, courage, forgiveness, and unconditional love. As a result of their teachings, I am