Post Traumatic Stress Disorders - PTSD

Although Post Traumatic Stress Disorder requires a medical diagnosis from a Psychiatrist, there are signs and symptoms that could assist with your motivation to seek the appropriate support and treatment.  PTSD often presents after experiencing or witnessing a life threatening event.  It could be that you suffered prolonged wounding from childhood by the people that were supposed to protect you.  It could be you have experienced or seen a road accident, war or other suffering.  You may have been physically or sexually assaulted and felt your life was in danger.  It could have been that you were/are in a domestically violent relationship and experienced felt scared for your life. 

Experiencing regular reminders of the traumatic event is common when trauma is not processed properly as other normal memories are.  Most people try to block the distressing thoughts which in turn makes the memories come back more and you may then experience triggers such as sounds, smells and words which make you involuntarily and vividly re-experience the trauma.  The trauma may present as nightmares or flashbacks which feel like you are experiencing the trauma again, like being in a mini horror movie.  You may also experience an altered anxiety state.  It may be that you are hypervigilant (watching endlessly for danger) and are in a constant state of anxiety, always looking for possible threats.  It may be you find yourself in a café or movie theatre sitting with your back against the wall where you can clearly see the exit.  It may be that you are under-aroused by danger and not flinching when natural instincts would be that someone would normally run away when they are threatened. 

Some people with PTSD go to great lengths to avoid reminders of the trauma.  It may be that they avoid people or places, taking longer travel routes to avoid the reminders of the trauma.  It may be that you use alcohol or drugs to numb your distress. Also common is changes in moods or thinking.  Some people become ultra-agitated with people they care about, some experience uncharacteristic aggressive outbursts.  When your thinking changes to feel that the world is an unsafe, dangerous place it is easy to avoid going out in public, be over protective and self isolating.  This can lead to depression or suicidality.  

PTSD can be treated with individualised therapeutic interventions to greatly reduce symptoms in consultation and liaison with your GP and Psychiatrist.  Brenda is passionate about reducing PTSD symptomology and is qualified and experienced in the following therapeutic techniques:

·         Behavioural Cognitive Therapy (BCT)

·         Prolonged Exposure (PE)

·         Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)

·         Radical Exposure Tapping (RET)

.         DNMS (Developmental Needs Meeting Strategy - Ego State Therapy)

Please see your GP in the first instance for a review for the need for medication and diagnosis. 

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