Issues Treated

PTSD & Trauma

Facing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other types of trauma is like navigating uncharted waters for the mind.

The impact of PTSD and trauma varies, influenced by age, coping skills, and life experiences. The mind’s response can range from acknowledging the trauma to burying it deep within, affecting both awareness and memory.

Regardless, PTSD triggers physiological changes, altering the brain’s alarm system and increasing stress hormones. This can lead to hypervigilance, emotional turbulence, panic attacks, intrusive memories, and more. It’s not just about the mind; trauma echoes deep emotional and existential effects, shattering previous beliefs and leaving the individual feeling helpless and confused.

The Animus Psychology Clinic based in Norwich understands the complexity of trauma. Our approach is rooted in recognising the unique journey each person takes. Together, we navigate the path to healing, addressing both the physical and emotional aspects of trauma. It’s about restoring not just what was lost but building resilience for a brighter future.

Types of Trauma and its effects

Trauma includes physical (being hit, pushed, slapped, held against one is will), sexual (involvement in sexual activity against one is will or under false pretences), financial (extortion) and emotional abuse (neglect, bullying, prolonged criticism), modern slavery (forced labour or marriage, debt bondage, trafficking, servitude) developmental trauma (occurring before the age of three), domestic abuse (can include physical, emotional, and sexual abuse), child abuse, complex physical experiences (giving birth, disability or acquiring life-threatening illness), witnessing/participating/being a subject to criminal activity, mass disaster, accident, religious sect activities or an act of terrorism. Events such as divorce, separation, sudden death of a relative, risky behaviour, rejection, infidelity are also considered traumatic.

PTSD & Trauma has the effect of deactivating the left hemisphere, responsible for linguistic, sequential, and analytical tasks. This means that the individual may struggle to remember their experience verbally, or put it into words, may struggle to remember the sequence of events and reflect on the meaning and responsibility of everyone involved. Both, cognitive behavioural psychotherapy, and psychoanalytic psychotherapy helps to activate the left hemisphere through restoring, explaining, and putting the experiences into order in a safe controlled environment.

Your therapist is highly skilled in helping you to manage your feelings as you begin to process your trauma. In cognitive behavioural psychotherapy you will be working on examining your information processing and behaviour patterns, learning calming strategies, emotional regulation as well as learning about the biology of trauma. In psychoanalytic psychotherapy you may take as much time as you need to feel comfortable enough to reflect on and begin to change the patterns in your life in connection to the trauma, work on reconnecting with your body, or create new meanings as a gentle step towards healing.

"I wanted to personally thank you for all the time and patience in helping me deal with my problems. While I sometimes found the sessions difficult. I began to enjoy them and knew that I was benefiting from our time together..... I’m now living my life with confidence and happy to be me and for the first time feel in control of my life."

Sam

07770 666542

lee@animus-psychology.co.uk