Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

When the Past Won’t Stay in the Past: Healing from PTSD Through Faith and Counseling

“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten.” — Joel 2:25 (ESV)

 

Some wounds don’t bleed, but they bruise the soul.

And sometimes, no matter how hard you try, the pain of the past keeps showing up in the present—uninvited and unrelenting.

​

If this is where you are, you may be struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). And you are not alone.

At Still Waters Counseling, we hold space for the things others may not understand. We sit with the pain you’ve been carrying, and walk with you toward peace—real, lasting, Christ-centered peace.

​

What Is PTSD?

PTSD can follow any traumatic experience—combat, abuse, an accident, betrayal, loss, or witnessing something deeply disturbing. For some, the symptoms show up right away. For others, they sneak in later, slowly but powerfully changing the way you think, feel, relate, and live.

​

PTSD isn’t a weakness. It’s the result of surviving something that left a mark on your nervous system, your memory, and your soul. Left untreated, it can feel like life is stuck on a loop you can’t escape.

​

But here’s the hope: trauma may explain where you are, but it doesn’t have to define where you’re going.

 

How PTSD Affects You

PTSD symptoms fall into four main areas. Understanding them can help you name what’s happening—and begin reclaiming what trauma tried to steal.

​

1. Intrusive Memories

​

• Flashbacks that feel real

• Nightmares that won’t let you rest

• Sudden waves of fear, tears, or panic tied to reminders of what happened

• ​

These moments can feel disorienting and shame-filled. But your body isn’t broken—it’s just asking for help. We help you retrain your brain and body to feel safe again.

​

“The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” — Psalm 9:9

​

2. Avoidance

• Avoiding people, places, or conversations that bring the pain too close

• Keeping busy to stay distracted

• Shutting down emotionally

 

Avoidance is the brain’s way of saying, “I don’t want to hurt anymore.” But healing doesn’t come by hiding—it comes by being gently seen, safely held, and slowly restored.

​

3. Negative Thoughts and Mood Changes

• Feeling emotionally numb or detached

• Losing interest in things you once loved

• Struggling with self-worth, trust, or hope

• Feeling spiritually distant or broken

 

PTSD can cloud how you see yourself, others, and even God. But friend, the trauma didn’t steal your worth—it just buried it under pain. We help you uncover it again, one truth at a time.

​

“He will restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.” — Isaiah 57:15

​

4. Physical and Emotional Reactions

• Being easily startled or constantly on edge

• Trouble sleeping or concentrating

• Angry outbursts or overwhelming guilt

• Turning to unhealthy coping (overworking, drinking, disconnecting)

• ​

PTSD can affect the body as much as the mind. But healing means more than coping—it means calming the storm and finding rest again. That’s why we offer whole-person care: emotional, spiritual, and physical.

 

What About Children?

PTSD can impact children too. They may:

• Reenact the trauma during play

• Withdraw emotionally

• Have trouble sleeping or unexplained fears

 

We offer gentle, age-appropriate therapy that helps young hearts find safety again—and helps parents feel equipped to walk alongside them.

 

Why Symptoms Fluctuate

Sometimes it feels like you’re okay—until you’re not. A smell, a song, a news story, or a life stressor can awaken the pain all over again. That doesn’t mean you’re back at square one. It means your healing journey needs more support—and that’s okay.

 

When to Get Help

If you've been living in survival mode for too long...
If your trauma feels louder than God’s peace...
If you're exhausted from holding it all together...

It’s time to let someone in.

 

You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

At Still Waters Counseling, we offer:

• Trauma-informed therapy grounded in the latest neuroscience

• Christian counseling that brings Scripture and Spirit into the healing process

• EMDR and somatic approaches to help reprocess painful memories

• Support for couples and families navigating trauma together

 

We don’t rush your healing. We don’t minimize your pain. We simply walk with you—through the valley, toward the light.

“He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground.” — Psalm 40:2 (NLT)

 

Hope Is Not Lost

What happened to you matters. But what God can do with it matters more.

Your healing won’t come overnight. But it will come.
You don’t have to keep pretending you’re fine.
You don’t have to fight the past by yourself.

Reach out today. Let’s talk—gently, prayerfully, and with the promise that you are not too broken to be made whole again.

​