Trauma
Trauma can happen at any time, at any age, has many forms and often causes long-lasting harm. But what is it?
Trauma is caused when a person is subject to a very frightening, stressful or distressing event. This can then establish itself as an emotional or psychological trauma; directly referring to the situation the individual has found to be traumatic, or to how the person has been affected by the experience.
Importantly, we all react in different ways and at different times, so you may be aware of the effects soon after the event taking place, or a long time afterwards. But the state of shock the trauma causes, whether it be from a traumatic birth, an accident, abuse, illness or any other factor, can leave us with lasting limiting behaviours. And these, may then stop us from being able to live a happy and healthy life.
Terms many of us are familiar with are PTS Post-Traumatic Stress and PTSD Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and although the names are similar, they refer to very different circumstances.
PTS refers to a short term response to the incident and could be said to be a persons expected and fitting response to the negative event.
In contrast, PTSD is a long-term anxiety disorder where the person continues to relive the traumatic event through flashbacks and other negative experiences. Triggered by many circumstances, an example of this was shown in the drama depicting the true story of the Salisbury poisonings. Here, one of the police officers who was critically ill in hospital having been exposed to the poison, was suffering from PTSD following his recovery.
Fear
Fear is a natural and often appropriate response to things we face in our lives, that could cause us harm. If our brain registers danger, or a perceived danger, in whatever form that may be, it’s protective response is to suggest we run, fight or hide. And it is this that is frequently referred to as our ‘fight or flight’ response.
If fear is stopping you from enjoying your life, then something needs to change. Hypnotherapy can help your brain unlearn the fear response and in time, this lessens the anxiety associated with the fear.
Phobia
If you have an extreme or irrational fear that prevents you for moving forwards, this is a phobia. For this to occur, your subconscious mind will have created a negative template that associates with a problem, and this is repeatedly brought to mind whenever the problem is thought about.
A fear becomes a phobia when it stops you from doing the things that you want to do. Capable of revealing itself in many different ways, some of which some more understandable than others, it is important to remember that our survival instincts have no rationale.
Hypnotherapy helps by changing the negative templates associated with the problem, allowing you to see your future as you would like it to be.
Each journey starts with one small step… If you would like to have more information on how we can work through your trauma, fears or phobia; and talk through how I may be able to help you, please contact me for a free initial chat by phone on 07909 951338, or email at holly@hollystonehypnotherapy.co.uk .
Holly Stone Hypnotherapy, working towards your preferred future with you in mind.
