Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) an anxiety disorder caused by very frightening or distressing events. While some cases surface quickly after the traumatic event, others may take years or even decades to develop. It is estimated that one in three serious traumas will result in PTSD.
The sorts of events that can cause PTSD include:
- serious accidents
- violent assaults, such as sexual assault, mugging or robbery
- long-term sexual abuse, violence or severe neglect
- adverse childhood experiences
- war and other violent or extremely frightening situations
- natural disasters
Symptoms of PTSD
It is normal to find any of the above events upsetting, but if you don't feel yourself and symptoms don't appear to be alleviating, seek help from your GP and/or a trauma-informed therapist or counsellor. The NHS website recommends seeking help if you still don't feel like you are improving after four weeks.
Examples of PTSD symptoms include:
- flashbacks
- repetitive and distressing images or sensations
- feelings of guilt, moodiness and isolation
- insomnia and/or nightmares
- difficulty concentrating
For some people, a disruptive or upsetting incident in the present – anything which triggers similar sensory reactions such as sounds, smells, visuals – can dramatically bring up issues and memories that were thought long forgotten.
Some people will do what they can to avoid experiencing emotions or sensations that remind them of the original trauma. This can result in feeling numb and withdrawn. Other forms of emotional numbing can include substance abuse and drinking.
People who experience trauma or chronic stress in childhood may also experience dissociation. Dissociative ability is highest in childhood. High levels of dissociative ability in adulthood are generally only present in people who experienced childhood trauma.
Ex-Royal Marine Nick Goldsmith shares his experience of PTSD and route to recovery
Treatment for PTSD
Psychotherapy is recommended by NICE as the first treatment for those with PTSD. In cases that develop quickly after the traumatic event, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), as well as eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing treatment (EMDR), have been found to be especially effective (see below).
Medication may also be prescribed in severely debilitating cases.
Did you know?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that around 70% of people will experience a traumatic event during their lifetime. Only 5.6% of these will develop PTSD.
How can counselling help with PTSD?
Many people find that counselling helps them deal with the symptoms of PTSD, such as guilt and mood changes. Talking to a non-judgmental person works well for anyone going through a bad time or who has emotional problems they can’t manage effectively on their own. There is no shame in seeking help. Research shows that it can help whatever the age or background of the person involved.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) works on the idea that your thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and actions are interconnected and that negative thoughts and feelings can trap you in a vicious cycle. By breaking down overwhelming problems into smaller parts and showing you how to change these negative patterns to improve the way you feel, CBT aims to deal with your current problems rather than focusing on what has happened in your past.
If your trauma is more long-term and rooted in your past experiences, such as chronic neglect or abuse, you may be suffering from Complex PTSD (or C-PTSD), which is likely to require more long-term psychotherapeutic work. Read about this here.
Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) begins by taking a thorough client history and a preparation phase, which involves creating self-soothing activities and building positive resources.
The distinctive technique employed by EMDR practitioners is bilateral stimulation. That means the brain is activated on alternating left - right - left sides by various means via the body. This can be done by moving the eyes from right to left, playing a simple sound in alternating ears or tapping gently on different sides of the body, such as on alternate knees, shoulders or hands.
This bilateral stimulation is thought to help the brain process information that has gotten stuck due to emotional and sensory overload. EMDR is often very effective for trauma, and it can be especially successful for one-off traumas such as a car accident.
If the trauma was repetitive and long-term, it is, of course, more complex and will likely take longer to resolve. One of the key components of recovery from trauma is to foster a feeling of safety and reconnection; therefore, the relationship with your therapist will be of fundamental importance.
Many therapists who have specific trauma training describe themselves as offering trauma-informed therapy.
Therapist Joanna Head explains EMDR
Last updated August 20 2024
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