Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

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Experiencing a traumatic event can have a profound emotional impact. Following trauma, it is normal to experience fear, anxiety, intrusive memories, nightmares, feeling on edge, or avoiding reminders of what happened. For many people, these reactions gradually lessen over time as the brain naturally processes the experience.

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However, when these symptoms persist and continue to significantly interfere with daily life, work, relationships, or wellbeing, a person may be experiencing PTSD.

 

PTSD can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event and affects the way the brain processes traumatic memories. It is also common for people with PTSD to experience depression, anxiety, or difficulties with sleep.

 

PTSD symptoms generally fall into 4 main categories:

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Intrusive memories

• Distressing memories of the traumatic event

• Vivid nightmares

• Flashbacks, where it feels as though the event is happening again

• Strong emotional or physical reactions when reminded of the trauma, such as rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, or intense distress

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Avoidance

• Avoiding people, places, situations or activities associated with the trauma

• Avoiding thoughts, memories or conversations about what happened

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Negative changes in thought and mood

• Persistent feelings of fear, guilt, shame, anger or sadness

• Feeling emotionally numb or detached from others

• Loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities

• Negative beliefs about oneself, others or the world

• Self-blame or blaming others for the traumatic event

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Changes in arousal and reactivity

• Feeling constantly on guard or hypervigilant

• Being easily startled

• Difficulty sleeping

• Poor concentration

• Irritability or anger

• Engaging in risky or impulsive behaviours

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PTSD and memory

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PTSD is often described as a disorder of memory because traumatic experiences are not processed and stored in the same way as ordinary memories. Instead, traumatic memories can remain vivid, fragmented, and easily triggered, leading to intrusive memories, flashbacks and nightmares.

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Complex PTSD (C-PTSD)

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While PTSD is often associated with a single traumatic event, C-PTSD typically develops following repeated or prolonged trauma, particularly in situations where a person feels trapped, powerless or unable to escape. This may include adverse childhood experiences, ongoing abuse or neglect, domestic violence or prolonged interpersonal trauma.

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In addition to the core symptoms of PTSD, people with C-PTSD may also experience:

• Difficulty regulating emotions

• Persistent feelings of shame, guilt or worthlessness

• A negative sense of self

• Dissociation or feeling disconnected from themselves or the world around them

• Difficulties trusting others or forming and maintaining healthy relationships

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Evidence-based treatment for PTSD

 

There are trauma-focused psychological therapies available to help individuals recover from trauma and reduce distressing symptoms. Depending on your individual needs, treatment may include:

• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT)

• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

• Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)

• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)

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There is no one-size-fits-all approach to trauma therapy. Treatment is personalised to your goals, experiences, and readiness, allowing therapy to progress at a pace that feels safe and manageable.

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At Soar Clinical Psychology, evidence-based trauma therapies are available to support recovery from PTSD, C-PTSD and other trauma-related difficulties.​