Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder caused by very frightening, stressful, or distressing events.
Someone with PTSD often relives the traumatic event through nightmares and flashbacks, and may experience feelings of isolation, irritability and guilt.
Causes of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Any situation that a person finds traumatic can cause PTSD and can include:
- serious road accidents
- violent personal assaults, such as sexual assault, mugging or robbery
- military combat or terrorist events
- traumatic birth
- events experienced by emergency service
PTSD can develop immediately after someone experiences a disturbing event or it can occur weeks, months or even years later.
PTSD is estimated to affect about 1 in every 3 people who have a traumatic experience, but it’s not clear exactly why some people develop the condition and others don’t.
How PTSD can be treated
The “Rewind” Technique.
I have been trained in and have used many times with great success, the “Rewind” technique, developed by Dr. David Muss, who for the past 20 years has been Director of the PTSD unit at the BMI Edgbaston hospital in Birmingham and founder of the International Association for Rewind Trauma Therapy.
The Rewind technique is a fast, effective and self-directed technique which is designed to bring the involuntary recall/flashbacks of the event under conscious control. In effect, we are “filing” the events away, so that although you will still remember them, you will become in control over whether you wish to recall them or not.
The incredible part of this technique is that there is no requirement to disclose any sensitive information regarding the traumatic event. After an initial consultation to discuss the issues that PTSD has been causing you, we can proceed with the Rewind Technique without having to discuss the events that caused the trauma at all, so there is absolutely no fear of disclosing anything about anyone or anything involved in the event.
Within as little as a single session (multiple traumas may require additional sessions), the traumatic events can be brought under conscious control, giving you the opportunity to start reducing the symptoms and moving forwards.
Of course, if you wish to discuss the trauma itself and would find that doing so brings you a sense of catharsis or closure, then absolutely that can also form a part of our work together and I would be more than happy to do so.
PTSD doesn’t have to be for life and there are ways to deal with it that don’t involve months of dredging up painful and troubling experiences.
If you’re struggling with PTSD, don’t hesitate to get in touch and we can discuss your options further.