Coping with Trauma (PTSD)

June is PTSD (Post-Traumatic?Stress Disorder) month, and my research on PTSD started when my son’s dad lost his life. Research on this topic looks like continuous learning, as there is no thumb rule that identifies the generic characteristics of PTSD or one cure that fits all.?Fortunate enough, I have had the opportunity to work with one of the famous Doctors and researchers in this field and managed to compile some information to help people understand what PTSD is, and what could potentially help them calm their constant traumatic thoughts and emotions.

Hope you enjoy reading it, as much as I loved putting this together! :)

PTSD means that your Flood Gates are wide-open!?

PTSD is caused by trauma – and the trauma can be of any kind, at any age. Its basically the imprint that trauma leaves in their mind and they feel that they are living that moment "now". Sufferers from PTDS or traumatic neurons develop a chronic sensitivity to threats. Trauma produces real physiological changes, including recalibration of the brain’s alarm system and an increase in stress hormones activity. As stated, PTSD is about what imprint is in their mind, and usually what they feel is - unsafe, terrified, numb.?

Your Brain and Trauma?

In Trauma, the left hemisphere of the brain shuts down (area related to learning, and logic, where also BROCA is located). In PTSD, scans would often show MPFC's low activity which means less self-awareness, losing sense of purpose and direction and inner reality impaired. The brain continues to secret stress chemicals even after the trauma is over, where as a result, they remain elevated and stimulate ongoing fear, depression, and rage. In PTSD, the system fails at the balancing act (coming back to normal/equilibrium). The FFF (Flight, Fight & Freeze) signals continue even after the danger is over so people often live in the feeling that it's happening “right now”.?

Overcoming PTSD?

Unfortunately, there is no one treatment that fits all!?Typically, the change begins when we learn to “own” our emotional brains. That means learning to observe and tolerate the gut-wrenching sensations that register misery and humiliation.?

The trick is basically to strengthen MPFC and increase the activity which is very useful in the recovery from trauma. When the balance between the emotional and rational brain is created, it decreases the activity of the brain’s smoke detector, the amygdala, and the reactivity of potential triggers. Whenever the emotional (limbic) brain goes overboard, then it creates uncertainty, also making the frontal cortex shut down where it can’t communicate with other centres of the brain.?

It's difficult for people to get over the intense feelings and memory and to overcome them, they generally resort to extreme activities, alcohol, drugs etc, also self-harming, cutting and picking their skin.?

I am giving here some techniques that could possibly help people with PTSD, manage their emotions and feelings, especially feeling safe, which is extremely important for them.?

Relationships –?People with PTSD often react to stress by becoming “spaced out” or with "excessive anger". They often can't tell what’s upsetting them. The key is to provide emotional security for their feelings. They have to find someone they can trust and not judge them, to hold their feelings and listen to their painful messages. A feeling of safety is what they are looking for.?

EMDR?(Eye Movement Desensitization and restructuring) –? This is a VERY powerful therapy that has gained a lot of momentum recently. Studies have proved that it's extremely effective in relieving trauma and feelings. EMDR give people rapid access to their emotions. A lot of emotions are expressed during the technique which helps regulate the MPFC and balance between the emotional and logical brain. EMDR helps in healing from traumatic emotions and also increases frontal lobe activity.?

Rhythm and Synchrony?– Trauma breakdowns our attuned rhythm and synchrony. Usually, the cycle is – you recall a memory, you have a gut-wrenching feeling, your throat gets dry, your voice becomes tense, your heart speeds and the respiratory system becomes rapid and shallow. A rhythmic approach like choral singing, dancing, and kickboxing, or even swimming would be extremely helpful in breaking that cycle.

Writing to yourself –?Helps in identifying ongoing feelings and physical reactions in the body. Write about your thought, feelings and physical reactions. Next to it is what you want to achieve. Then with every event that forces you to relive the trauma, open that checklist and see how you’re progressing with managing these feelings.??Understand?your own landscape – identify the part in you that you dislike the most (what is triggering) and what role it's playing in your life – victim etc. Ask each part to stand back and see what they are trying to achieve in your life.?

Yoga?– This bottom-up approach helps in the recalibration of the autonomic nervous system. Breath, movement, touch, and acupressure really help. People with PTSD have low heart rates – their SNS and PSNS are out of sync. Yoga creates sync and balance. In yoga, you notice the sensation arise at the peak and then it falls and that’s what we aim to achieve.??

Medication?- SSRIs are useful only because people feel less enslaved to their emotions and feel calm, and able to cope with their routine. However, a few SSRIs would interfere with the dopamine that can affect your motivation levels, making you feel saturated and not have the excitement needed in your life.?

Psychotherapy and Hypnotherapy?– Well, studies and research has proved that psychotherapy has a slow or minimum success rate in dealing with trauma. Since Hypnotherapy involves taking people to an absolute state of a relaxed mind (theta brain waves) and feeling safe, it could be a better form of therapy to help with PTSD.?

Unfortunately, the fact is many people do not know that they have PTSD. They say they have haunted-bitter-devastating memories. It's important for them to first understand, get a proper diagnosis, and then find a way that helps them.?

Its often said that childhood trauma is very difficult to handle and it takes a lot of time to overcome. My reply is “your mind is a software, and you have the power to reboot and reinstall”.?

You can start anytime. It's never too late!?

Gulneet Chadha

Certified RT Therapist. Licensed Hypnotherapist

[email protected]