PTSD treatment Melbourne
PTSD CAUSES & SYMPTOMS
Post-traumatic stress disorder - also known as PTSD - can result when an individual experiences, witnesses, or is threatened by a traumatic event. PTSD can also result in an individual if they learn that a family member or close friend experienced a significant trauma.
Military veterans, first responders (e.g. paramedics, police officers, firefighters), refugees, and victims of terrorism, serious accident, natural disaster, or criminal acts such as family violence, assault, sexual assault, and robbery can be at risk of developing PTSD.
Although certain symptoms may occur immediately after the event, some individuals may show delayed expression. In this instance, the full diagnositic criteria may not be met until 6 months or more after the event. Diagnosis of PTSD in an individual (an adult, adolescent, or child over the age of 6) involves consideration of:
- The stressor itself
- Intrusion symptoms (the way in which the traumatic event is re-experienced mentally)
- Avoidance of trauma-related thoughts, objects, or locations
- Negative alterations to thoughts and mood
- Alterations in arousal and reactivity
- The level of distress and functional impairment
- The duration of symptoms
It is also necessary to consider if symptoms may be due to causes other than the stressor. The following diagram illustrates how PTSD can impact a persons thoughts, emotions, and behaviours.
Additional Symptoms of PTSD
Sometimes individuals suffering from PTSD may also experience recurrent or persistent dissociative symptoms of depersonalization or derealization.
Depersonalization is the experience of being an outside observer of one's own body or thoughts. Individuals have described this as a feeling of unreality, of being in a dream, or of time slowing down.Derealization occurs when an individual experiences their surroundings as unreal, distant, distorted, or dreamlike (e.g. 'foggy' or lifeless).
PTSD TREATMENT
Escape the cage trauma locked you in
There are a number of evidence-based psychological treatments for PTSD. These include
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
- Prolonged Exposure (PE)
- Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Clinical Hypnotherapy
As people are unique in relation to their genetic makeup, personality, life experiences, and the environment in which they live, some forms of PTSD treatment may suit certain individuals more than others.
Barwon Counselling and Hypnotherapy offers PTSD treatment Australia-Wide via telehealth. The hypnotherapeutic modality used is the Rewind Technique, which can help you to process traumatic memories associated with PTSD or phobia. The Rewind Technique has been demonstrated as a safe and gentle treatment for trauma. Your risk of being retraumatized is greatly reduced as the technique does not require you tell your therapist the explicit details of your trauma.
When you undergo the Rewind Technique, you will be shown how to review and revisit the traumatic event(s) in a controlled manner using a form of mental dissociation. This can allow you to process the trauma minus any negative emotional and mental impacts, helping you to reduce your symptoms and return to normal functioning.
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Crisis SUPPORT
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Please note that this practice is not equipped to provide crisis support. If you experience strong thoughts relating to self-harm, please seek help immediately.
This document lists contact details for 24/7 Mental Health Services including Emergency 000, Lifeline, Kids Helpline, Beyond Blue, MensLine Australia, Open Arms, and Suicide Call Back Service.
Click on the image to download the PDF.
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- Melissiah, Telehealth Therapist