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Hypnotherapy & Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
01 Nov 2007
As we think about Rememberence Day, our thoughts go to the horrors of trench warfare. In those un-enlightened days, many individuals were shot for reacting to the effects of what was then termed shell-shock. This has now been re-labelled as PTSD, (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). There are strict diagnostic criteria which define PTSD. Even if these are not fully met, the symptoms can be equally perturbing to a sufferer.
PTSD is classed as an anxiety disorder. A person may develop this disorder after witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event, or events of an extremely overwhelming nature, during which they felt intense horror, helplessness, or fear. The most prevalent features of PTSD are:
- Hyper-arousal causing irritability
- Constantly being on alert for danger
- Re-experiencing of the trauma in the form of intrusive emotions, nightmares and flashbacks
- Emotional numbing, where the sufferer does not respond to emotional stimulation.
The majority of PTSD is caused by a single, life-threatening event or threat to integrity. However, the symptoms of traumatic stress can also arise from an accumulation of small incidents rather than one major incident. In some cases the symptoms of PTSD disappear with time, whereas in others they persist for many years. PTSD often leads to other psychological problems, such as depression, social phobias, OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) etc.
The person may or may not know that they have PTSD, but they will know what happened to them. They may not be able to remember all of the details or they may deny or disavow the experience. Even if they try to deny or disavow it, they will still relive their experiences, over and over again. It can take the form of nightmares, and/or flashbacks, and they are prone to lapse into dis-associative states. They will re-experience the trauma when exposed to events that resemble or symbolize some elements of the actual traumatic situation. It never stops. Nightmares, and/or flashbacks are the most reported of all the symptoms.
Hypnotherapy provides an effective means of dealing with PTSD, by dealing with the emotions, e.g. fear, guilt, shame, hate, connected to the condition. Negative thoughts and emotions can be changed or ‘reframed’ so that the trauma is taken out of the memories causing the condition. Clients are provided with the tools to help them to live their lives free from the anxieties that caused the condition in the first place.
If you are suffering from PTSD or indeed any sort of anxiety issue, remember, it is not a sign of weakness to ask for or to seek professional help.
Chris Jones Hypnotherapist www.chrisjones.uk.com 07740 085101
