Trauma is the experience of extreme psychological distress following a life threatening or other terrible event. When suffering form trauma, people can experience a wide range of emotions including extreme anger and sadness, and the trauma may manifest asanxiety, survivors guilt, stress, low self-worth or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Trauma can lead to ongoing problems of sleep, difficulty coping with stress, and relationships may become turbulent and volatile or sufferers may withdraw from them. In trauma, the nervous system is ‘tricked’ into believing that the traumatic experience from the past is happening in the present, leading to psychological and often physiological responses to life-threatening circumstances. Trauma sufferers can also develop phobias related to the traumatic experience.
Treatment for Trauma Diagnostic tests and a wide range of treatment tools are available for use in diagnosing and treating trauma. Current research indicates that experience of trauma can be reduced by avoiding alcohol and drugs, increasing exercise and sleep, and by paying increased attention to self-care and important personal relationships.
Paula has undertaken specialised training in treating trauma with the National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine in the United States. This provides her with a wide range of up to date and highly effective treatment techniques and evidence-based strategies utilising findings from clinical research. This working with Paula, trauma sufferers learn to calm their bodies and re-engage their thinking brain, how to tolerate distress after trauma and what is happening in their body during hypoarousal and hyperarousal, and how to respond.
For more information about trauma, and to book an appointment, please call Paula today on 07305 780371 or by e-mail @[email protected], alternatively please fill out theonline form.