Trauma Focused Psychological Education For Adults
This document is for anyone who has experienced a traumatic, distressing or disturbing event and aims to provide some education around Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the effects of PTSD not just on the mind, but the body. This is a quick simple guide and it is not intended to provide all information or to be taken as such.
What is Trauma?
Let us help you to put the pieces together.
Where you have been exposed to actual or threatened death, serious injury or sexual violence.
In one or more of the following ways:
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Directly experiencing
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Learning a close friend or relative has experienced the event.
You have experienced something exceptional, out of the ordinary and anything far beyond what you would expect. In the case of complex PTSD this has been a constant on going experience.
What is CPTSD?
What is happening to you.
Emotional and psychological trauma
is the result of stressful events that
shatter your sense of security,
making you feel helpless in a
dangerous world. (1) A traumatic
event is very personal and subjective
but we can recognise events which are likely to result in traumatic responses.
Most people associate PTSD with rape and battle-scarred soldiers—and military combat is the most common cause in men—but any event (or series of events) that overwhelms you can trigger PTSD, especially if the event feels unpredictable and uncontrollable.
Interpersonal Trauma and CPTSD
Often interpersonal trauma is a cause of Complex PTSD. It is characterised by habitual repeated abuse, by someone we trust or depend on. In the case of children, they are unable to escape, leaving them confused and frightened.
Although there may be cases of genuine lack of understanding of how to adequately look after children there are also others who are deliberate perpetrators.
Perpetrators of long term abuse are often expert deceivers, outwardly charming but are driven by the need to control and dominate. They are master manipulators, grooming their victims over a long period of time to gain their trust and dependency. They are masking their own insecurities and poor self-image by being overly controlling.
It is important to remember that none of the abuse was your fault, there is no justification for it. You were not weak, and you did not encourage it. In fact, you are strong, as you have survived.
PTSD CAN AFFECT
Those directly experiencing
the event
Those witnessing the event
Those picking up the pieces after the event
(Services, Family etc)
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Not all people experiencing acute stress disorder will go on to develop PTSD, however, it is estimated that 1 in 10 men and 1 in 5 women who experience a traumatic event will develop PTSD. (2) PTSD is when the symptoms continue for more than a month.
PTSD develops differently from person to person. While the symptoms of PTSD most commonly develop in the hours or days following the traumatic event, it can sometimes take weeks, months, or even years before they appear.
Not everyone knows what you may have experienced in your passed so some of the “symptoms” may seem out of character. You may also have manyquestions, like “What is happening to me.” “Why now?” Or you may make statements to yourself like “It is not going to get to me” or “I am stronger than this”.
Is your behaviour impulsive and dangerous?
Are you not sleeping or having nightmares?
Are your thoughts about revenge?
Do you feel numb?
Are you having troubled thoughts about life?
Re-enactment of event: Are you bringing aspects of the event into daily life?
Other Physical Symptoms
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Muscle aches and pains
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Diarrhoea
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Irregular heartbeats
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Headaches
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Feelings of panic and fear
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Depression
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Drinking too much alcohol
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Using drugs (including prescriptions & painkillers).
Complex PTSD Symptoms
In conjunction with the other symptoms already mentioned someone with Complex PTSD may also experience deep feelings of anger, shame, guilt, disgust, self-blame, mistrust and hopelessness.
This is due to the trauma being repeated over a prolonged period of time. The victims are able to foresee their next traumatic experience although also unable to prevent it. Because the victim is unable to escape such event physically, they tend to escape through dissociating which although a completely normal reaction to protect our self; it can lead to other health problems. (3)
The main parts of the brain responsible for our reactions are the-
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Amygdala
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Hippocampus
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Prefrontal Cortex
Together these form “The Limbic System” controlling our emotional response to a situation. The hippocampus is important for memory
Amygdala (The Smoke Alarm)
A small almond shaped structure responsible for processing and creating memory or our emotional reactions. It helps in the development of memories, particularly those related to emotional events and emergencies. It is sometimes known as our brain’s alarm system or the smoke alarm!
Hippocampus (The Filing System)
A tiny seahorse shaped structure responsible for storing our memories in chronological order and converting short terms memories into long term memories. The hippocampus works with the amygdale to help distinguish between dangerous and safe situations.
Prefrontal Cortex (The Watch Tower)
This is the front part of the brain responsible for our executive functions like planning, setting goals and our actions. It forms our personality and shapes our behaviour and reactions playing a big role in our development. It is known as the watch tower or the smart one.
Together these form “The Limbic System” controlling our emotional response to a situation. The hippocampus is important for memory
When there is danger, the amygdala comes to our rescue, but in doing this is stops talking to the prefrontal cortex and information cannot be stored properly by the hippocampus. It also instructs our body to release two stress hormones of cortisol, to increase our blood sugar, and adrenalin to increase our heart rate, so we can react to the dangerous situation
After a traumatic experience the amygdala can become sensitive and can come to the rescue even when there is no danger. This can cause too much of the stress hormones to be released in the body and reduces our ability to manage stress. (33)
The amygdala didn’t know there was no need to come to the rescue until it was too late and the moments passed. If this keeps happening it can cause many physical symptoms and emotional feelings.
Any physical, emotional or environmental trigger will generate the same response and intrusive images and flashbacks, as our mind tries to make a connection between our previous trauma and present trigger.
How can we help you?
There is psychological trauma focused therapy available which will provide you with the necessary support and guidance, delivered by qualified counsellors.
We will structure your therapy sessions in such a way so as to understand your situation and to identify the most appropriate way to support you moving forward. The number of sessions required will ideally be determined before treatment starts and depends on the setting and severity of PTSD in the individual.
We provide psychological trauma focused therapy available which will provide you with the necessary support and guidance, delivered by qualified Therapists.
We will structure your therapy sessions in such a way so as to understand your situation and to identify the most appropriate way to support you moving forward. The number of sessions required will ideally be determined before treatment starts and depends on the setting and severity of PTSD in the individual.
We will reassure you that stress reactions are normal responses to abnormal events. Such reactions include shock, fear, grief, emotional numbing, indecisiveness, worry, unwanted memories, fatigue, difficulty in sleeping, being easily startled, distrust and irritability. It is not unusual that these reactions will continue for days and even weeks after a trauma, however, in time most people have a normal recovery of their emotions.
Don't,
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Beat yourself up about it - PTSD symptoms are not a sign of weakness. They are a normal reaction to terrifying experiences.
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Bottle up your feelings. If you have PTSD symptoms, don’t keep it to yourself because treatment is usually very successful.
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Expect the memories to go away immediately; they may be with you for quite some time
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Expect too much of yourself. Give yourself a bit of slack while you adjust to what has happened.
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Stay away from other people
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Drink lots of alcohol or coffee or smoke more
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Get overtired or skip meals (3)
During a panic,
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Remember: Anxiety symptoms can’t harm you;
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Breathe through your nose and sit down if you can – the panic will
soon pass;
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Think calmly & rationally about what is happening, do not talk
yourself into more panic;
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Use distractions to focus away from the symptoms and worrying
thoughts. (7)
NICE Guidelines: For info and guidance that The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has issued to the NHS on the treatment & care of people with PTSD, please visit www.nice.org/guidance & view “Information for the public”. Aimed at people with PTSD, their advocates & carers, & the public.
“All healthcare professionals should treat you with respect, sensitivity and understanding, and explain PTSD and its treatment to you simply andclearly.”
“Supporting a person with PTSD may be quite distressing. You can find information about the important role of carers at the websitewww.carers.gov.uk”