WHAT IS POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events.
Someone with PTSD often relives the traumatic event through nightmares and flashbacks, and may experience feelings of isolation, irritability and guilt.
They may also have problems sleeping, such as insomnia, and find concentrating difficult.
These symptoms are often severe and persistent enough to have a significant impact on the person’s day-to-day life.
It is often associated with soldiers, and was first termed as ‘Shell Shock’. It has since been recognised that PTSD can be experienced by anybody and is often referred to as a ‘normal reaction to an abnormal event.’
Whilst it is preferable as with all our therapies that the client has been diagnosed by a medical professional (not necessary a GP and preferably a psychologist or psychiatrist) it is not a pre-requisite of this programme. However, our role as a Sanomentologist is to treat the symptoms and not diagnose – we are not qualified through this programme – unless of course you have the relevant qualifications to do so.
If through this process, the client raises any concerns in your mind such as suicidal thoughts, threats of violence to others, it is your ethical responsibility to inform the relevant authorities to protect the individual from themselves and protect others in society.

CAUSES OF PTSD
The type of events that can cause PTSD include:
  • serious road accidents
  • violent personal assaults, such as sexual assault, mugging or robbery
  • prolonged sexual abuse, violence or severe neglect
  • witnessing violent deaths
  • military combat
  • being held hostage
  • terrorist attacks
  • natural disasters, such as severe floods, earthquakes or
    tsunamis
    PTSD can develop immediately after someone experiences
    a disturbing event or it can occur weeks, months or even years later.
    PTSD is estimated to affect about 1 in every 3 people who have a traumatic experience.

  • COMPLEX PTSD
    People who repeatedly experience traumatic situations such as severe neglect, abuse or violence may be diagnosed with complex PTSD.
    Complex PTSD can cause similar symptoms to PTSD and may not develop until years after the event. It's often more severe if the trauma was experienced early in life as this can affect a child's development.