TRAUMA - when you are exposed to shocking or traumatic events then it is natural to feel a sense of trauma for a period of time. Your mind takes some time to adjust and to make sense of what you have witnessed and come to terms with the uneasy feeling that your basic assumptions about the safety of your world has been challenged. However, as in many cases you probably will rationalise your experience by thinking it through or by talking it over with friends or family. This is a natural process that helps you work through shocking and upsetting events and may take a few weeks before you start to get a rational perspective on those events. However, some people are more profoundly affected by their traumatic experiences and may require professional help because they have developed symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), an anxiety disorder that affects a percentage of people exposed to traumatic events. The condition may include reliving the traumatic events in the form of a 'flashback' and trying to avoid anything that reminds you of the trauma. Information on this condition can be found on the following link http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinfo/problems/posttraumaticstressdisorder/posttraumaticstressdisorder.aspx

Treatment Options

Having read the above information you will have compared what you are experiencing with how the condition is described and you may have begun to think about seeking out some of the treatment options outlined in the leaflet, including seeking out a therapist. I have been treating people for anxiety problems such as PTSD, Panic Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Simple Phobias for a good part of my 23 year career as a therapist and I use mainly a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) approach to treatment. This is a highly structured approach to treatment but it is colaborative one where we work together on developing an understanding of your condition, and what is the indicated treatment for it -which will include homework and exercises in learning to overcome your condition and preventing relapses. If all of that sounded scientific, I would add that I am also friendly and have a sense of humour! I offer this treatment at The Nottingham Road Clinic in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire and I also offer a home visit service for treatment at home but I charge mileage for that. More information on the Nottingham Road Clinic can be found on the following link http://www.nottinghamroad.co.uk/ The telephone number of the clinic is 01623 624137.

Acquired Brain Injury

Sometimes people are involved in physically traumatic events such as road traffic collisions and this can complicate matters as it relates to psychological trauma and anxiety because they have also picked up some damage to their brain from the forces involved in the collision. Acquired brain injury can range in its' severity of effects but often it compromises memory, attention and can even cause personality changes such as the person being more impulsive or thoughtless as to what they say. Fortunately I have also had a number of years experience treating people who have a combination of psychological and cognitive problems as a result of organic brain damage so I am used to clients with these sorts of additional difficulties and have found ways to work with these added problems.