Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Are you Struggling with PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events. In PTSD individuals often relive traumatic events through nightmares and flashbacks, and may experience feelings of isolation, irritability and guilt. These symptoms are often severe and persistent enough to have a significant impact on the individual’s day-to-day life. PTSD is often associated with war veterans, but the truth is that it can affect anyone who has experienced a trauma. This includes events like road traffic accidents, fires, childhood abuse and neglect, or physical or sexual assaults.
What is PTSD?
PTSD involves experiencing distressing feelings if reminded of the traumatic events (termed ‘re-experiencing’) as well as flashbacks (a visual image or emotion that is akin to feeling as if the event is happening again when it is not) and nightmares. Re-experiencing, flashbacks and nightmares can be very distressing and are associated with high levels of anxiety, anger guilt or shame following a traumatic event. It often leads to avoiding individuals and places things that may trigger emotional upset.
Some individuals can also experience something called ‘complex PTSD’ which relates to having experienced difficult or traumatic events in childhood on a repeated basis (but isn’t limited to this). Complex PTSD can impact interactions in relationships and mean that individuals will present with longer standing difficulties that impact on how they see themselves, others, and the world around them – for example, it can make it hard to trust others and regulate emotions or feelings when interacting with others.
When to seek treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
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You must be aged 18 years or above to access our therapy services.