What is PTSD?

PTSD is a mental health state which can be the result of the sufferer experiencing or seeing a form of trauma. This can then develop into severe anxiety, flashbacks and emotional stress which will dramatically impair the sufferer’s quality of life. Approximately 8% of the population has PTSD at some point in their lives.

Definition and Causes

PTSD is a condition than can develop following an incident when an individual has experienced. They may have witnessed a traumatic event such as serious accidents, armed combat, sexual violence, physical violence in a relationship. Other events such as natural disasters, sexual assaults during childhood and other life threatening situations can also lead to PTSD.

Not everyone who suffers trauma will develop PTSD. There are varying factors that can bring about it’s onset such as the nature of the trauma and personal history.

What are the Symptoms of PTSD?

PTSD symptoms can vary among each person however they can be categorized into the following five main types;

1 Intrusive Memories; This includes flashbacks where the sufferer will continually replay the traumatic events in their minds. Events such as distressing dreams, getting to sleep or maintaining continued sleep and unwanted memories constantly popping up out of nowhere to remind them of the traumas sometimes certain songs may affect them that may have been current at the time of the incident.

2 Avoidance; Sufferers may avoid reminders of the trauma such as certain places where the trauma took place. They may also avoid anywhere that bears a resemblance to those places. Avoiding people, socialising or any activities that may trigger any memories of the event are not uncommon.

3 Changes in Physical and Emotional Reactions; These symptoms may include being easily startled by unexpected noises. Things such as a car back firing, sleep depravation, constantly feeling on edge and feeling irritable.

4 Negative Changes in Thinking and Mood; This can show itself as thinking negatively about themselves and others, lacking confidence, mistrust of others. Difficulty experiencing any positive emotions and feelings of detachment in social situations like having an out of body experience are also common.

Some sufferers may experience Hypervigilance where the person is constantly scanning for danger, which can result in trouble relaxing even in safe environments.

5 Feeling Suicidal; Sometimes the trauma of the event seems impossible to bury. Sufferers may feel the only way to silence the intrusive thoughts is end their lives…It isn’t!

How can PTSD be Diagnosed and Treated?

Obviously, the initial step is to seek medical advice. To be diagnosed with PTSD, the symptoms as described above must persist for a month or more and significantly impair daily functioning.

Treatments for PTSD can include;

Medication: Anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications can be prescribed to help manage the symptoms.

Psychotherapy; There are various approaches here, which include CBT and EMDR, and are effective in treating PTSD, and obviously, Hypnotherapy can assist greatly.

How can Hypnotherapy help PTSD?

Hypnotherapy can become a great help to someone suffering from PTSD. Entering into a state of hypnosis can help examine painful memories in a calm and detached state.

In this relaxed state of mind, it is possible to face those memories and allow the brain to properly consolidate them, potentially reducing the impact of unprocessed trauma.

Fear responses can be encouraged to lessen in severity, and the triggers can be managed more effectively. Hypnotherapy can improve the symptoms, and the way it’s structured will mean that each individual will have their own treatment. These are based on their personal experiences, concentrating on the most salient areas in their life.

Hypnotherapy can make a big difference in helping people regain control of their lives rather than the trauma controlling them.

What Next?

If you have been diagnosed with PTSD and feel hypnotherapy is for you, please get in touch for a free, no-obligations chat on 07710 564 456