PTSD can be experienced by anyone who has been involved in, or witnessed situations where they were very afraid, horrified, helpless, or felt their life was in danger.  It can be triggered by a single or series of events - taking place over many months or even years - for example: a car accident; traumatic childbirth; rape; sexual, physical or emotional abuse; violent crime; active service etc. 

After a while (or even years) PTSD sufferers begin to re-experience the event in the form of distressing memories, nightmares, flashbacks or hallucinations; or they may feel the effects of PTSD in areas related to their trauma such as driving, pregnancy, sexuality, self-esteem, trust and relationships etc.

To help survive PTSD sufferers may develop coping mechanisms to help them to deal with their pain; others develop less useful strategies which create additional problems (eg substance abuse, promiscuity, uncontrolled anger, avoiding relationships or situations). 

Symptoms of PTSD

 

	I have experienced, heard about or saw a terrifying event that made me feel helpless, horror-struck, at risk of death or serious injury.
	I re-experience the event through recurrent and unwanted images, memories, nightmares, flashbacks or hallucinations
	I am easily startled.
	I’m super-aware of things and people around me.
	I have trouble concentrating.
	I feel emotionless.
	I become extremely distressed when something triggers a memory of the event.
	I avoid thinking of the terrible event.
	I stay away from people, activities or places that trigger memories of the event.
	I cannot remember significant aspects of the event.
	Since the event, I have lost interest in some of the things I once enjoyed.
	I feel detached from people around me
	I don’t feel hopeful about the future.
	I can’t fall asleep or stay asleep easily.
	I am irritable and sometimes lash out in anger.

If you (or someone close to you) have several of the above symptoms then it’s worth asking for help. Forget the ‘stiff upper-lip’ thing – it’s very overrated! Does it really make sense to suffer needlessly? Everyone deserves to feel happy. Take steps today to get the fun back in your life.

What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Not everyone who has experienced trauma is consciously aware of it. The mind is capable of submerging dreadful memories of trauma. Untreated symptoms of PTSD can persist for many years, elements in the environment can remind a person of the traumatic experience (eg bright lights, sudden noises, or an intimate touch) by activating regions of the brain that support intense emotions and cause them to ‘overreact’. People with PTSD can find it hard to describe their experiences in words; their recall of details may be affected and they may find it hard to be ‘present’.  Traumatised people may lose their way in the world. Without treatment, their lives may be negatively changed forever; with treatment they can heal from the effects of the original trauma, learn to tolerate feelings and sensations and move on.

Help with PTSD: What can I do?

	Know you are a survivor. Which of the strengths you have today have developed out of hardships you endured earlier on? Write down those strengths and congratulate yourself for coping so well.
	Keep yourself safe by not taking unacceptable risks; practice safe sex; leave uncomfortable situations before it gets worse; take care of your physical and mental health.
	Practice setting boundaries, learn to say no, stop allowing others to coerce you into doing things you don’t want to do, never allow others to be verbally, mentally, physically or sexually abusive towards you. Setting boundaries today will be harder to achieve with people who invaded your boundaries in the past, but persevere. Trust your intuition it will help you to know when someone is overstepping your boundaries – trust it.
	Write in detail about your feelings as they surface – grief, sadness, loss, anger, fear etc and allow yourself time and space to feel them or express them thought art, sculpture, creative writing. Do not try to avoid or cover them up by making yourself busy, using harmful substances, shopping, over-eating or any other avoidance mechanism.
	Don’t allow your fear or guilt stop you from seeking treatment. You deserve to be happier, less stressed and to be free. Contact me on 0161 710 2468 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  and make an appointment as soon as you feel ready to be free of PTSD.