Anxiety & Trauma
Anxiety
Anxiety is a universal human experience - it's our brain's way of keeping us alert to danger, and ready for action.
Sometimes however, this system is too sensitive or too strong to the point that it can become paralysing or interferes with our day to day lives. This might be related to genetics as well as external triggers. When our anxiety is unhelpful and directed in a specific way, we might describe a type of anxiety condition such as social anxiety, generalised anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder etc
Anxiety also accompanies other conditions, such as mood disorders or neurodevelopmental conditions. The best treatment for anxiety starts with a good therapist who can help you understand your anxiety and teach skills and approaches to manage it. In some people, a bit of medication can help too.
Trauma
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs when a person (or someone we care about) is faced with an actual or imagined threat to their life or that could possibly result in injury. When this occurs, the brain registers the experience deep in memory to protect you from being in that situation again.
There are three broad groups of symptoms associated with PTSD::
1. Avoidance of reminders or anything associated with that threat
2. Re-experiencing memories e.g. flashbacks, nightmares which can be distressing and affect sleep which is crucial in mental well being
3. Being on constant high alert for danger, or "hypervigilance"
These symptoms are often distressing and intrude into every day life and cause problems in several areas of life.
A specific type of PTSD is "complex" PTSD. This type of PTSD is related to growing up in an environment that is unsafe - physically, mentally, or emotionally. The "trauma" that is experienced is often on a daily basis rather than in a "one-off" event and the effect of this on the developing brain is that it leads to the development protective mechanisms that become pervasive, contributing to someone's personality - the way we view and interact with ourselves, the world and those around us. However, these coping mechanisms are often unhelpful and at some point become counterproductive and negatively affect our relationships and mental well-being.
PTSD is treated through a combination of skilled, compassionate therapy, either individually or in a group. Sometimes medication can be of assistance.