Hypnotherapy and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Its being a long time since I wrote on my blog, today I shall take up the pen once again. As my thought went about the Tsunami in Japan during March. I will be writing about Hypnotherapy and how it can help in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder aka PTSD.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (also known as post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD) is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological trauma. This event may involve the threat of death to oneself or to someone else, or to one’s own or someone else’s physical, sexual, or psychological integrity, overwhelming the individual’s ability to cope. As an effect of psychological trauma, PTSD is less frequent and more enduring than the more commonly seen acute stress response. (Wiki)

With the recent events in Japan on March 2011, from Earthquake to Tsunami to Snow & radiation hazards, the list goes on. As a  Hypnotherapist in Singapore, I’m aware that there are possibility of patients coming our way, as thousands died and many family alive but are grieving. We must do our part to assist the survivors in their journey of recovery. In the mean time do send your prayers and love to those alive and are in need of help.

There are various types of common traumatic events, all known to lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). One type of trauma results from natural disasters such as earthquakes, tornadoes or hurricanes, forest fires, floods, volcanic eruptions, landslides, or tsunamis. These types of experiences are particularly insidious because they tend to traumatized large populations of people at once, and can result in epidemics of Survivor Guilt and other PTSD symptoms.

According to Dr. Susanne Babbel a psychologist specializing in trauma and depression. “Natural disasters in particular can bring victims a feeling of being betrayed by “their god,” which can result in a loss of faith. Making peace with “the divine” might be one step toward healing and gaining faith (which can be crucial to health) back.

Like many causes of trauma, natural disasters can be sudden and overwhelming. The most immediate and typical reaction to a calamity is shock, which at first manifests as numbness or denial. Quickly—or eventually—shock can give way to a overemotional state that often includes high levels of anxiety, guilt or depression.

People might have lost their loved ones or their homes. As a result they may feel helpless, they may have to live in camps or shelters without support from relatives or friends for extended time periods. However, living with other survivors can also be a time to reconnect, talk about the event with others, and help to reframe the event. Being able to help another survivor can reduce helplessness, and may start the healing process.”

Flashbacks and trauma recollections experienced by the earthquake victims were dominated by the vivid visual imagery they had experienced.During the earthquake they had heard screams of trapped individuals, and had witnessed friends, neighbors, or family members burned or trapped under collapsed buildings. In terms of trauma-triggers: for those exposed to the earthquake: destroyed buildings, shoddy homes, and absence of family members served as trauma-reminders.(Brian Trappler, M.D., is the director of Outpatient Services at Kingsboro Psychiatric Center in Brooklyn, NY)

There are many conceptual models within traditional psychotherapeutic models which seek to understand the nature of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). These models are helpful in describing and categorizing the way in which the disorder presents itself in panic, dissociation, hallucinations and other phenomena, but they are not so helpful in providing resolution to deeply held shock and terror which is usually at the root of the presenting symptoms.

Using hypnotherapy is a platform for effective intervention on symptoms related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Some of the most common symptoms includes, feeling irritable, sleeping problem, anger outbursts, lack of concentration, and hyper-vigilance. Hypnosis induces a deep state of relaxation that assist in the healing of PTSD. Upon relaxation – the complete opposite of hypervigilance – other symptoms can be relieved. Deep relaxation can help with irritability, sleeplessness and anger.

During hypnotherapy, the patient is in a safe and relaxed state, which allows them to gain control over symptoms. As the process works in helping the patient feels at ease and less anxious. The recovery from PTSD can be effectively enhance. There are various process in which to assist the individual in their recovery, even in a same event two individual having PTSD can react to the intervention differently. As the saving goes, “it takes two hands to clap” thus the process of hypnotherapy is a two-way process. While hypnotherapy is an effective modality for recovery, it is by no means a magic bullet. The recovery depends on individual and their determination to heal.

“It is not how hard you have fallen, rather it’s how fast you get up when fallen” Nathanael Seers.

For further queries on hypnotherapy related matters contact Nathanael Seers at +6593385167. or email nathanael@mindworks.sg

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