Facts about Trauma & PTSD Treatment
Why some therapy methods can be re-traumatising
This article was written initially by Venka de Rooij for Mad World Summit magazine to highlight the danger of re-traumatising therapy like counselling. For this very reason, Venka uses non-traumatising methods that are gentle, mostly non-verbal, and highly effective. People can be trauma-free in very few sessions.
What is the difference between trauma and PTSD?
When you think of trauma or PTSD, instances of extreme violence may spring to mind. Maybe you associate trauma or PTSD primarily with war veterans, abuse survivors, or victims of serious crimes.
You may find it hard to believe someone who has lived an “ordinary” life can experience or suffer from the effects of trauma or PTSD.
What causes trauma & PTSD?
Trauma can be caused by an incident in which you experience fear, helplessness, and horror – an assault, an accident, the sudden death of a loved one, severe bullying, or a traumatic medical procedure. The more frightened and helpless you feel, the more likely you are to be traumatised. Unsurprisingly, 1 in 2 people experience trauma at some point in their life, and around 20% of those will develop PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
How can trauma affect your life?
As a psychotherapist and clinical hypnotherapist, I see many people who are seeking help with anxiety, depression, overeating, insomnia, chronic illness, unstable relationships, or addictions.
Often reminders of the trauma are ignored by either consciously suppressing memories or unconsciously repressing them through by distractions. Distractions can be food, work, alcohol, drinks, drugs, sex, pornography, gambling, internet, or computer games. Trauma often anchors people in the past without allowing them to understand why they continue to have certain feelings and why they behave the way they do. So you feel stuck.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a more extreme version of trauma. The symptoms include:
- Flashbacks
- Intense Emotions
- Hypervigilance
- Anger Outbursts
- Panic Attacks
- Tense Muscles