Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) refers to a psychological condition which can affect people who have been involved in traumatic events. PTSD symptoms include: frequent nightmares, flashbacks, constant avoidance of reminders of trauma, hyper vigilance and emotional numbness. These symptoms make it hard to maintain daly activities and can sometimes become almost crippling. It is believed that persistent attempts to block traumatic memorises underlie symptoms of PTSD. Not everyone who is exposed to trauma will develop PTSD but in general people who experience multiple traumas are at higher risk. People with PTSD often develop secondary conditions such as major depression or diabetes mellitus (consequence of relief eating) or alcoholism (self medication for heightened arousal). More women develop PTSD than men. However, men are at higher risk in the context of military duties, frontline police work or in the context of institutional bullying. It can be difficult to diagnose PTSD in men as shame plays a big part preventing them from seeking right treatment.
These individuals are said to have Developmental Trauma and are prone to develop a range of emotional, personality, legal and physical complications later in their lives.
There is group of individuals who have experienced severe abuse or neglect very early in their lives often within the context of close attachment relationships. This type of trauma interferes with normal brain development causing a range of emotional and cognitive problems in later life. While some of them may have symptoms of PTSD majority suffer from a wide range of psychiatric conditions including persistent mood, anxiety, personality and substance use disorders.
The range of difficulties faced by people with Developmental Trauma often not fully understood in traditional mental health settings and are often misdiagnosed or at worst minimised. Often the care provided in traditional mental health setting has the effect of re-traumatizing these individuals. The focus of treatment in Developmental trauma is mainly to reduce their reactivity, intrusive thoughts and avoidance. Experts believe that often talk therapy alone is insufficient in resolution of complex trauma. Oftentimes body-mind interventions such as EMDR or Neurofeedback are quite effective in complex or developmental trauma.
There are many different ways of treating PTSD and Developmental trauma.
Psychotherapy: Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) can help with learning better ways of coping with some PTSD symtoms and behaviours. CBT aims to change the underling irrational thoughts and behaviours that are responsible for maintaining this condition. Often the focus of treatment is to safely provide gradual exposure to traumatic memories (Trauma focused CBT). Another well-known treatment for PTSD is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
Support groups: Often people with PTSD suffer from shame and consider themselves defective in some way. This is more common in men who often try to avoid the people and isolate themselves severely. Support groups can be invaluable to help realise the whatever they are going through is an understandable reaction to trauma. Many people with PTSD find anxiety support groups extremely helpful.
Medications: Certain types of medications such as anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medications can help in managing hyperarousal symptom of PTSD. Medications can prevent also prevent relapses
Neurofeedback: Individuals with PTSD are sensitive to various things including medications. Talk therapies often do not elicit required response as many individual with PTSD find it hard to elicit traumatic memories making trauma-focused approaches redundant. Neurofeedback offers viable alternative especially in the beginning, to calm the heightened arousal making it possible to for traumatic memories to emerge safely without eliciting severe anxiety.
Please speak with your healthcare provider for referral and contact our staff for more information on treatment options.
