Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD can often present with other comorbid features such as anxiety, secondary depressive symptoms, emotional numbing and/or substance misuse. Other psychiatric disorders comorbid with PTSD are often seen as well.

Psychological treatments that are specifically designed for traumatic experiences remain the mainstay of treatment. There are several models of psychological interventions that can be used, however, Trauma focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and/or Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy are the most common psychological interventions used in treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.
In addition to the above, psychiatric medications are commonly used. including medications that specifically target certain symptoms such as nightmares and sleep difficulties. These have to be discussed and prescribed by a specialist.
Any comorbid conditions need to be treated as such as part of an individualised and tailored management plan.

As a trained EMDR practitioner, in the past, Dr Sakhuja has used this treatment for PTSD and in other anxiety related conditions. The easiest way to understand this treatment is to think of the brain as being very efficient organ that files away the different memories in a very organised fashion. Whenever certain past memories need to be accessed, the particular file related to that memory is taken out, looked at, described and then filed away. However, emotional memories related to trauma are often not processed completely to be able to be stored away or filed away. These emotional and unprocessed memories keep coming surfacing and re-surfacing causing the emotional distress and symptoms of PTSD.    It is understood that the external stimulation by movements of the eyes or tapping in some instances as part of the EMDR therapy, can help in the start of the processing of these traumatic memories such that they can be fully integrated into life experiences and the memory apparatus to be stored and filed away without leeding to emotional distress.

It is important to understand that this therapy does not wipe away the memories but simply attempts to process them enough so that on recollection they do not bring about an emotional distressing response for the individual.

Dr Raman Sakhuja has treated and lectured on PTSD on several occasions in his role as an educator throughout his career. It is best to look at booking a consultation and discuss in detail if you think you or any of your family member or friend is struggling with any trauma related psychological problems.