Conditions We Treat

The RESTORE center focuses on treating patients who have experienced life trauma and/or oppression-based stress, or who are dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or behavioral and mental health symptoms similar to those of PTSD.

What Is Trauma?

Trauma events usually involve life threat, serious injury, or sexual harm. These events are experienced as overwhelming or uncontrollable, and can happen to anyone.

Potentially traumatic events include child abuse, domestic violence/partner violence, combat, sudden/unexpected loss of a loved one, car accident, sexual abuse/violence, or living through a natural disaster like a hurricane.

Reactions to Trauma

Trauma events affect people differently. Exposure to trauma is a common reality and we recognize the wide range of historical and current experiences that contribute to our patients’ distress.

Emotional and behavioral responses to trauma are shaped by our earlier experiences. If these experiences include chronic adversity—maltreatment, poverty, discrimination, or multiple instances of trauma across multiple generations—long-term problems may occur. These can include changes in emotions, relationships, schoolwork, job performance, and overall life.

At the same time, we see our patients’ resilience and their capacity to survive, heal, and thrive despite these adversities.

What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

PTSD is a specific mental health condition that can develop after you experience or witness a traumatic event. Symptoms associated with traumatic events can develop soon after the event or can emerge much later. Symptoms can last for a few days, weeks, or much longer. The good news is that trauma-related problems respond well to treatment.

PTSD symptoms can change over time and are different from person to person. They are generally grouped into four categories: re-experiencing, avoidance, negative changes in thinking or mood, and changes in physical and emotional reactions.

• Re-experiencing symptoms. Memories of the traumatic event can come back at any time. They can feel very real and scary. For example, you may have nightmares or flashbacks.
• Avoiding things that remind you of the event. You may try to avoid talking or thinking about the trauma event as well as situations or people that remind you of the traumatic event.
• Having more negative thoughts and feelings than before the event. The way you think about yourself and others may become more negative following the trauma. Common emotions following a trauma include feeling numb, guilt, anger, or shame.
• Changes in physical and emotional reactions. Following a trauma, you may be jittery, easily startled, always alert and on the lookout for danger, likely to become angry or irritable very suddenly, or have trouble sleeping or concentrating.

What Is Oppression-Based Stress (OBS)?

Experiences of discrimination and oppression, such as racism, can lead to a variety of physical and mental health consequences. These can include general distress, anxiety, depression, or symptoms that can be comparable to PTSD.