Post-traumatic stress is the stress that one experiences after a traumatic event (typically 3 or more months after the event). The event can be so painful or overwhelming at the time, that the body and mind don't always know how to process it. If a trauma continues to go unprocessed, stress responses can develop which can interfere with professional and personal lives. Some symptoms of PTSD can include:

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• Recurring thoughts, ‘flashbacks’ or nightmares about the event 

• Anxiety and fear, especially when confronted with events or situations that remind you of the trauma

• Feeling “on edge,” being easily startled or becoming overly alert

• Crying for no reason, feeling despair and hopelessness or other symptoms of depression

• Changes in sleep patterns or appetite

• Memory problems including finding it difficult to remember parts of the trauma

• Feeling scattered and unable to focus on work or daily activities

• Difficulty making decisions

• Irritability or agitation

• Anger or resentment

• Guilt

• Emotional numbness or withdrawal

• Sudden overprotectiveness and fear for the safety of loved ones

• Avoidance of activities, places or even people that remind you of the event

• Other physical health problems like dizziness, stomach upset or less ability to fight off sickness or infection

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PTSD can be a highly debilitating condition that can affect people for years on end. This is because people tend to believe that the best way to keep themselves safe from threatening memories is to distance themselves from them. However, quite often the opposite is true and people continue to be affected by a memory of the past that feels real in the present. A caring and committed psychologist is available to help you work through these fears, together, in a safe and caring environment.