Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder affecting a large number of the Australian population. PTSD is characterized by feelings of fear, anxiety and memories of a traumatic event that keeps on recurring. The feelings last for a long time and interfere with how a person copes with everyday life. It is a disabling condition impacting on all areas of a person’s life.
Symptoms may include:
– Nightmares or flashbacks
– Avoidance of situations that bring back the trauma.
– Heightened reactivity to stimuli
– Anxiety or depressed mood.
The person may experience:
Behavioural Changes: agitation, irritability, hostility, hypervigilance, self-destructive behaviour, or social isolation
Psychological Symptoms: flashback, fear, severe anxiety, or mistrust
Mood Changes: loss of interest or pleasure in activities, guilt, or loneliness
Sleep Problems: insomnia or nightmares
Other common experiences: emotional detachment or unwanted thoughts
Hypnosis is used to provide controlled access to memories that are then placed into a broader perspective, allowing the individual to work through traumatic memories and thereby reduce spontaneous unbidden intrusive recollections.