We live in a world where both natural and man-made disasters can happen to anyone, anywhere, and anytime. If we always expect something bad to happen, living a normal life would be difficult, so we go about our daily routines, hoping to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. However, most people will eventually face some traumatic experience. 

Trauma can come in many forms, and people react in different ways. Some may feel completely overwhelmed, while others seem to handle it better. For some, healing happens quickly, while for others, it can take a long time and be very difficult. No matter how we respond, traumatic events affect our lives deeply. However, with the right support, people can manage trauma effectively. 

PROMIS provides treatment for individuals who have experienced traumatic events. We believe that if you have an outlet to process these memories and feelings, then you will be able to deal with the trauma more effectively and prevent it from progressing to post-traumatic stress disorder. 

Understanding Trauma

Trauma is a typical emotional response to events or situations that involve distressing experiences such as natural disasters, accidents, neglect, or violence. It is important to recognize that individuals process these experiences in varied ways, as reactions to traumatic events can differ significantly from person to person.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can occur after someone goes through or sees a life-threatening situation, such as combat, a natural disaster, a car crash, or sexual assault.

It’s common for us to have distressing memories, feel anxious, or struggle with sleep after such events. Initially, you might find it difficult to carry out everyday tasks like going to work, attending school, or spending time with loved ones.

However, many people begin to feel better within a few weeks or months. If you continue to experience symptoms after a few months, you might have PTSD. 

Complex PTSD

Complex PTSD refers to a specific kind of trauma and related condition where you experienced and are exposed to a traumatic event repeatedly. Typical sources of CPTSD include child abuse and domestic violence. It can also affect those who have experienced imprisonment, torture, or sex trafficking.

We offer a wide range of mental health programmes to suit everyone’s needs. This includes counselling for depression or anxiety, a 24-hour telephone helpline, and a range of workshops.

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Symptoms of Trauma and Related Conditions

Although trauma can take many forms – it could be something that happened to you or something that you were able to witness to someone else, they share common signs and symptoms such as:

Reliving The Traumatic Event

Unwanted memories of trauma can appear unexpectedly. They can seem very vivid and frightening, almost like the event is happening all over again. If you happen to experience them, it is known as a flashback. In some cases, you might also have frequent nightmares with themes associated with traumatic events.

The memories can be triggered by something that reminds you of the event. For instance, watching the news about a disaster might trigger someone who experienced the devastating effect of a typhoon.

Avoidance Behaviours

You may often avoid certain people, situations, or anything that reminds you of the traumatic event. If you experienced a car accident in the past, there is a high chance that you would avoid driving your car, taking public transportation, or avoiding anything related to a car accident. 

Negative Thoughts And Feelings

Postpartum depression is a mental health condition that a woman can experience after pregnancy. It may begin during pregnancy or any time in the first 12 months following childbirth. Postpartum depression can last for a few days or more than one year.

Feeling On Edge

After experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, you might experience hyperarousal or a constant feeling of anxiety and restlessness. You may notice that it can be difficult to sleep or focus on many things, and you are constantly watching for potential dangers or threats. 

Trauma Treatment 

Treatment for trauma and related conditions involves a combination of trauma-focused psychotherapy and medication, which aim to process traumatic memories, reduce symptoms, promote long-term recovery, and prevent potential relapse. 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an effective way to help reduce trauma symptoms. It helps you to understand how your traumatic memories affect your thoughts, feelings, and actions. This therapy focuses on changing your thinking patterns and feelings about the trauma, and it helps you recognize your reactions to reminders of the trauma. 

CBT also teaches you skills to reduce avoidant behaviour, which can help lessen feelings of isolation. Therapists who use CBT apply different techniques to assist you in changing your negative thoughts and reactions to traumatic experiences. You will learn to confront distressing thoughts related to fear and guilt, which can help you think more healthily and adaptively.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy

People who have experienced trauma often try to stay away from reminders of their trauma. While this might provide temporary relief, it can hinder long-term recovery from the condition. Hence, one of the effective forms of talk therapy is Prolonged Exposure (PE).

 In PE, you confront the thoughts, feelings, and situations that you have been avoiding. It may seem frightening at first, but facing your fears in a safe environment and under the supervision of a therapist can teach you that avoiding reminders of the trauma may no longer be necessary. 

Your therapist will encourage you to discuss your trauma repeatedly. This process of therapy may help you gain more control over your thoughts and feelings related to the trauma, reducing the fear of your memories.

Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of therapy that helps you deal with distressing memories, thoughts, and feelings linked to the trauma. By working through these experiences, you can find relief from trauma symptoms. 

During EMDR, you will focus on a rhythmic movement or sound while recalling the distressing memory until you notice changes in how you perceive that memory and can process more information from the past. 

Pharmacological Intervention

Although the first-line treatments for trauma are psychotherapies, medication can be prescribed to reduce symptoms and accelerate recovery. 

Currently, there are two recommended medications as treatment for PTSD and trauma, namely, sertraline and paroxetine. Other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like fluoxetine and citalopram have also shown positive outcomes in reducing trauma symptoms. They can also help improve other conditions that co-occur with trauma, such as depression, anxiety, panic disorder, and some symptoms, such as aggression, impulsivity, and suicidality. 

Generally, these medications are suggested because of their effectiveness and fewer potential side effects. 

PTSD Residential Treatment in the UK

Getting trauma support can feel overwhelming. However, it doesn’t have to be frightening. Here at PROMIS, we have an experienced team that has spent years providing effective therapy for people dealing with trauma.

If you are interested in learning more about our treatment options for trauma, our staff is available to help and assist you in setting up appointments with us to answer any questions you may have. 

Now is the time to reclaim your life. We are here to guide you. 

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