Trauma and PTSD
Sometimes we may have experiences which are so intense and difficult that our system cannot make sense of them at the time they are happening. These experiences can then get stuck in our minds and bodies as trauma. Trauma can occur when we’re very young, arising from abuse or neglect , in which case it is known as developmental trauma. It can also happen later in life due to overwhelmingly frightening or difficult events causing PTSD, or it can build up over longer periods of time due to chronic assaults on our dignity and sense of self such as are experienced if we feel trapped in circumstances in which we feel powerless, disrespected or controlled.
When we have trauma, we may find we often get flooded with anxiety and other negative emotions which are out of proportion to our current situation, or experience a sense of dissociation in which we feel disconnected from our body and surroundings. We may experience ‘flashbacks’—intrusive memories of those events which can include the replaying of sensory experiences we had at the time (body memories). The physical manifestations of these strong emotional responses may even include sensory disturbances such as shaking, pins and needles or feelings of hot and cold. In some cases, these responses can be strong enough to feel frightening or overwhelming in themselves, causing us to push them away or close them down, preventing them from resolving and contributing to the experience remaining locked in our system.
“When I first met Marcus I was in a traumatised state from sexual abuse when I was a child. I spent a year in therapy with him and every Tuesday was one more step towards healing. He always made me feel safe and let me set the pace. In the midst of the worst state of anguish he also had the uncanny ability to lighten the intensity and sometimes, surprisingly, could make me laugh before I left the session. He walked alongside me in ways that surprised and encouraged me. Most of all, he is very sensitive and challenged me to be my most courageous self — but ‘held my hand’ when I felt unable to do it alone.”
I work specifically with trauma, including PTSD, complex PTSD and developmental trauma. To begin with I will aim to help you to find sources of feelings of safety and security – both within yourself and in the world around you– so that you can learn to calm your nervous system down and regulate intense feelings. Once you feel calmer and more in control we can, if you wish, look at processing the difficult events that lead to the trauma to help let them go.
The focus is always on going carefully and slowly, and pacing things so that the process is safe and manageable. I want you to feel in control so that you don’t get overwhelmed and the trauma can be healed and integrated in a gentle, constructive way.
To find out more or to book a free introductory chat, contact me.