WHAT IS PTSD

Most people are likely to experience a potentially traumatic event in their lifetime, and most individuals recover well, given time and adequate social support.For some individuals however, the experience of a traumatic event or chronic exposure to trauma can trigger symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Symptoms are characterised by:

 A sense of reliving the traumatic event

• experiencing unwanted and distressing thoughts or images, flashbacks, nightmares, or feeling as though the event is recurring.

Avoidance and numbing

• avoidance of people, places, thoughts and activities associated with the traumatic event
• feeling emotionally flat, losing interest in enjoyable activities, or feeling disconnected from friends and family.

Negative thoughts and mood

• persistent negative thoughts about self, others, and the world
• distorted views about the causes and consequences of the event.

Feeling wound-up

• feeling irritable, angry, over-alert, or edgy
• experiencing difficulties concentrating
• experiencing difficulties getting to sleep or staying asleep.

EVIDENCE BASED PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTION

There are a range of psychological treatments for PTSD. The two types of treatment that are most effective are called trauma-focused cognitive behaviour therapy (TF-CBT) and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR).

For more information or to make an appointment please contact Yvette Rae on 0407 962 758.