PTSD

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, such as a natural disaster, war, accident, or various forms of aggression. The symptoms may manifest immediately or emerge weeks, months, or even years later, occasionally disappearing and reappearing over time.

Common Symptoms of PTSD:

  1. Flashbacks and Re-experiencing: Vivid nightmares or intense memories that make the traumatic event feel real, as if reliving it.

  2. Negative Thoughts about Life and the Future: Pervasive negative thoughts and a bleak outlook on life stemming from the traumatic experience.

  3. Fear of the Future: Anxiety and apprehension about what lies ahead, often influenced by the traumatic event.

  4. Feelings of Guilt or Shame: Emotional burdens of guilt or shame associated with the traumatic incident.

  5. Loss of Motivation: Decreased drive and enthusiasm for daily activities.

  6. Trouble Concentrating: Difficulty focusing or maintaining attention on tasks.

  7. Depression: Persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness.

  8. Anxiety: Overwhelming feelings of unease and nervousness.

  9. Irritability: Easily provoked and quick to react with irritation.

  10. Anger Outbursts: Sudden, intense episodes of anger.

  11. Trouble Sleeping: Insomnia or disturbances in sleep patterns.

  12. Avoidance: Steering clear of situations reminiscent of the traumatic event and reluctance to discuss it.

  13. Hyperarousal: Feeling on edge, hyper-vigilant, or easily startled.

  14. Self-Destructive Behaviors: Engaging in substance use, alcohol consumption, or risky behaviors as a coping mechanism.

Can Recovery from PTSD Occur?

Absolutely. With appropriate treatment, recovery from PTSD is possible. The healing journey is unique to each individual, with varying timelines. Symptoms may gradually diminish over time or disappear completely with the right intervention. Key elements in the recovery process include professional support, understanding, and tailored therapeutic approaches. It's essential to acknowledge that recovery is achievable, offering hope for a brighter, more resilient future.

Let’s talk to find out how I can help you

Meet me at my office location in person if we are in the same country or online.

I offer a free 15-minute initial call so that I can get a brief sense of:

  • What you are hoping for

  • To answer questions

  • To make initial recommendations

  • And to decide if you would like us to work together

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

 

CBT encourages us to re-evaluate our thinking patterns and assumptions in order to identify unhelpful patterns (termed “distortions”) in thoughts, such as overgeneralizing bad outcomes, negative thinking that diminishes positive thinking, and always expecting catastrophic outcomes, to more balanced and effective thinking patterns. These are intended to help us reconceptualize our understanding of traumatic experiences, as well as our understanding of ourselves and our ability to cope.  Through various other techniques such as emotional regulation, we can learn how to calm our nervous system down so that we can work through our trauma(s) in a safer way.

Somatic Experiencing Therapy (SE)

 

Somatic experiencing (SE), is a holistic approach to learn how to re-establish a natural connection between mind and body after being overwhelmed by something that has shocked us—whether a moment ago or decades ago—our nervous system needs to be “re-set.”  You gradually re-learn how to heal. This approach can be combined in an adaptive and timely way with CBT and other proven therapies.

 

Heart Coherence Biofeedback 

 

Heart Coherence is a form of biofeedback that uses a device to measure one’s heart wave variability and coherence in real time. The goal of Heart coherence Biofeedback is to teach you how to bring your mind, body and emotions into balanced alignment. It is helpful in teaching you how to self-regulate your emotions and gain control over flashbacks and panic attacks as well as other specific symptoms related to trauma.

It can be used in combination with other proven therapies for trauma and PTSD.

Cognitive Hypnotherapy (CH) 

 

Cognitive hypnotherapy (CH) is an assimilative therapy rooted in CBT, with the addition of hypnosis, which is a psychodynamic therapy that focuses on the unconscious mind (implicit thoughts, actions and emotions) no longer in conscious awareness. It is collaborative work with the therapist in which the person is an active participant in the process and not something that is performed unilaterally.
Combined with the other therapies mentioned above, cognitive hypnotherapy can be effective in working through core beliefs and triggers associated with traumatic events in addition to reframing one’s narrative..