PTSD

A useful working definition of PTSD is when a person is suffering from intrusive images, sounds, thoughts or feelings that are linked back to a previous event or set of events. These intrusive elements are usually called flashbacks. The primary event may have been a life threatening situation or simply any unpleasant situation, particularly if the person were at that time in a state of heightened anxiety.

A useful way of looking at this is to think of a computer as an analogy. It is possible to minimize a programme and then run another one in the foreground. The background programme is the sensitizing event. If there is something in the present that in some way links across to this programme then the programme comes into the foreground and is expressed as a flashback or the emotions attached to the primary event.

This phenomenon of running more than one programme concurrently is a normal state of affairs. If the times to which our attention is called are pleasant and positive then we quite enjoy the links as we reflect on previous happy events and call these "daydreams". It is, however, a different situation if the effects of the time brought into recall are negative.

When we experience flashbacks we are in an altered state which is, in fact, a trance. The ability to run multiple programmes at the same time is, in my opinion, a trance phenomenon. Hence only those who are good trance subjects tend to suffer from PTSD. This is great news though, because it means that hypnosis is an extremely effective tool if used in the treatment of PTSD.

Treatment of PTSD

I believe, for the reasons stated above that hypnosis is the treatment par excellence for PTSD. It is very quick and usually results in total resolution of any problems with flashbacks.

What is needed in PTSD is to be able to go to the memory of the event and change that in some way in order to make a learning and then separate the attached negative emotions. The original method of treatment was regression and abreaction where the client is regressed back in order to re-experience the event and let out the emotions that need to be released. Whilst this is still an effective technique, the client (and the therapist) find the technique distressing. If the client does not have any more emotional reserves than they had at the time of the original incident then they are re-traumatised and may even be made worse. In my opinion a counselling approach to trauma is inappropriate as that also takes the client back into the event in a similar way to regression and abreaction.

Newer techniques in order to treat PTSD and other sequelae of trauma have now been developed. These are the techniques of dissociated imagery. The essence of this approach is that a metaphor is used in order to allow the client to be dissociated from the event by either floating above it or by seeing it as a projected film. This "distance" or "dissociation" serves to separate the client from the event. Hence they do not re-experience the vivid emotions of the original event. Negative emotions reduce our ability to respond with flexibility. Unless they can generate another response to the event then they have simply re-experienced the original event and reinforced the effect of the event.

Once the situation is in place where the client feels safe and is able to view then event in a dissociated way then it is possible to use various psychotherapeutic interventions in order to change how they feel. The essence of the client's resolution of the problem as that they use imagery in order to in some way take control of the situation as they see it from the new dissociated perspective. Then they can, in some way, give resources to "the younger you" who experienced the initial event.

Treatment of PTSD is usually easy and quick if undertaken by a therapist who is experienced in the use of dissociative imagery. However I do not feel that a client should be treated for this condition by an inexperienced therapist.

I wrote the poem "I am Free" as a reflection of my observations of the effects of use of dissociative imagery in those suffering from PTSD. Click here to see the poem.

Past Trauma

We have all, in varying degrees, experienced difficult and distressing times. In most cases these events do not cause us to have future problems. In fact they can serve to strengthen us when we experience difficulties in the future, as we have developed successful coping strategies in the earlier events.

Some people use metaphors of precious metals being purified as the furnace gets hotter and hotter. Whilst that metaphor can be helpful for someone who has coped well, it can pour guilt and other negative feeling on those who did not cope as well as they would have liked.

Some therapists work on the assumption that we all have a negative traumatic events that are the root of all our present problems. Such persons then "fish around" in the clients' unconscious memories and bring things into consciousness until they eventually find the "right" negative event. That event is then "dealt with" and the client is "totally healed".

I feel that such an approach is irresponsible and may be harmful. We have past events that we have dealt with in a resourceful way. Why should these be dug up and dissected? One way to look at this is to think of well rotted compost. That can serve to nourish a garden. You would not want to separate and re-create the original weeds and dead plants that were used to make the compost.

Whilst it may be appropriate to work on past events this is by no means always the case. Ideally when past events are dealt with this should be done in a way in which the work is kept at an unconscious level using metaphor or dissociative imagery.