Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD can occur when a life-threatening traumatic event, or several traumatic events happen. Your own life can be directly in danger, or you could have witnessed a near-death, or fatal experience.
PTSD is usually diagnosed when trauma symptoms have persisted for at least a month. These symptoms include intrusive thoughts of the traumatic event, hypervigilance, flashbacks, nightmares and avoidance of reminders of the event.
Imagine you’re on a bus and suddenly hear an explosion. After being stunned, you come to your senses and realise there have been several casualties amongst you. Instead of waiting for emergency services, you run from the accident, scared for your life.
When you get home, your family notices you have been injured and need to go to the hospital. You start feeling guilty you didn’t want to see if you could have helped anyone else or sought medical attention for yourself sooner. You vow to never travel on a bus again now have trouble sleeping, you feel snappy, jumpy and easily startled. Images of the tragedy also play through your mind constantly.
Working through PTSD
These are some of the difficulties you can work through and resolve with our team. Here is some more information on why trauma memories are so difficult to process and what we do in therapy to resolve them. There’s also a really helpful metaphor here about trying to bury the trauma memories in a cupboard that won’t close, and how you can work through this and finally close the door on your troubles.
Finally, if you’d like to screen yourself for PTSD, please complete this form and send it to us to discuss in your first appointment. You may also find this questionnaire helpful for understanding what thoughts are getting in the way of your recovery from PTSD.
PTSD Resources
Explore downloadable resources that empower you to grow, cope, and create positive change in your life.
