PTSD

PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, is a mental health condition that can develop after someone experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. These events can include things like war, physical or sexual assault, natural disasters, domestic violence, bullying, accidents, or other life-threatening situations.

1. Intrusive memories: Flashbacks, nightmares, or unwanted thoughts about the traumatic event.
2. Avoidance: Staying away from places, people, or activities that remind them of the trauma.
3. Negative changes in mood or thoughts: Feeling emotionally numb, having trouble feeling positive emotions, or developing negative beliefs about oneself or the world.
4. Hyperarousal: Being easily startled, feeling tense or “on edge,” having difficulty sleeping, or having angry outbursts.

 Emotional and Psychological Effects:

• Intrusive Thoughts: Flashbacks, intrusive memories, and nightmares related to the traumatic event are common. Can lead to anxiety or panic attacks.
• Avoidance: avoiding places, people, or activities that remind them of the trauma. This can lead to isolation and social withdrawal.
• Negative Mood and Feelings: experiencing feelings of guilt, shame, or anger. They might feel emotionally numb or disconnected from others.
• Hyperarousal: feeling on edge, easily startled, having trouble sleeping, or being overly alert. It can lead to irritability, anger outbursts, and difficulty concentrating.

2. Physical Health:

• Sleep Disorders: Due to nightmares or hyperarousal, insomnia.
• Chronic Pain or Fatigue: Some people with PTSD experience physical symptoms like headaches, stomach issues, or chronic pain that don’t have an apparent physical cause but are linked to the stress of PTSD.
• Increased Risk of Health Problems: PTSD is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular issues, high blood pressure, and other chronic health conditions due to the constant stress response.

3. Relationships:

• Strained Relationships: difficult for people to connect with family and friends. They may struggle with intimacy, communication, or trust, which can lead to relationship breakdowns.
• Difficulty Parenting:  difficult to engage fully with their children or partner, leading to tension or difficulty managing family responsibilities.

4. Work or School:

• Decreased Performance: Concentration issues, irritability, and emotional distress can make it challenging to perform at work or in school.
• Absenteeism: Symptoms like depression, anxiety, and sleep problems can lead to more frequent absenteeism from work or school.
• Difficulty with Social Interactions: struggle with workplace relationships, as PTSD may cause irritability, social withdrawal, or difficulties in teamwork.

5. Coping Mechanisms and Substance Abuse:

• Self-Medication: To cope with emotional pain or intrusive thoughts, some individuals turn to alcohol or drugs, which can create a cycle of substance abuse.
• Unhealthy Coping Strategies: Avoidance of emotions or situations that remind them of the trauma may lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms, like dissociation or withdrawal.

6. Decreased Quality of Life:

• Feeling of Hopelessness: PTSD can make someone feel like they’re “stuck” in their trauma, leading to hopelessness or despair.
• Loss of Enjoyment in Life: Interests and passions that once brought joy may no longer hold the same appeal due to the constant emotional strain.

7. Impact on Self-Esteem:

• Feelings of Worthlessness: PTSD can lead to a loss of confidence and self-esteem. Survivors may struggle with feelings of inadequacy or worthlessness due to the trauma they experienced.
• Blame and Guilt: Often, individuals with PTSD blame themselves for the trauma or feel guilty about their reactions, further impacting their mental health.

• We have over a 2 decades of experience offering trauma informed care
• Trauma training, and using trauma centred approach of which includes individual sessions, group sessions and workshops.
• Our approach helps reduce trauma symptoms and improves individuals’ quality of life.

We use Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (TF-CBT). This is a therapeutic approach specifically designed to help children, adolescents, and adults who have experienced trauma and are dealing with PTSD or other trauma-related symptoms. It has been shown to be effective in treating individuals with PTSD, helping them process the trauma and develop coping skills.

This approach focuses on:

1. Psychoeducation: Educating the individual about trauma and its effects on the body and mind.
2. Cognitive Restructuring: Helping the person identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts and beliefs about themselves, others, and the world.
3. Exposure: Gradually confronting the memories of the trauma in a controlled way to reduce fear and distress.
4. Stress Management: Teaching relaxation and coping strategies to manage anxiety and emotional responses.
5. Parenting Support (if applicable): Involving parents or caregivers in therapy to help support the child through recovery.
6. Narrative: Encouraging the individual to create a coherent narrative of the trauma to process their emotions and reduce the power of the memories.

TF-CBT is highly structured and typically involves around 12-16 sessions. It’s evidence-based and often used in conjunction with other forms of treatment for PTSD.