How CBT can help with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD is a specific form of anxiety problem. It is the result of a (series of) traumatic event(s), whereby the person involved was afraid for their own life or the life of others. Examples of traumatic events are: being physically assaulted, childhood abuse and serious accidents.

Humans are not 'designed' to withstand the onslaught of these trauma's and as a result some people become very fearful and hypervigilant, terrified as they are that it might happen again. This is often accompanied by nightmares and flashbacks about the traumatic event.

A Case Study: Charles

Charles was involved in a motor vehicle accident. When he was on his motorbike, a car had knocked him over. While the car drove on, Charles was left in the middle of the road, unable to move. It was a dark night in the Essex countryside and for two hours he was terrified that a car would come, not see him and drive over him. In the end he could reach his mobile phone and call for help.

Unhealthy Negative Feelings

During the incident, Charles was terrified. To his surprise he started to experience the same terror about six months after the accident when being out in the evening, whether it was in a car, on the motorbike or just walking the dog.

Beliefs

“Something terrible is going to happen. I can’t stand feeling like this. I will be trapped again”.

Self-Defeating Behaviours

Not going out in the dark, not going out on cloudy autumn/winter days, always having lights on in the house, avoid going to sleep.

What triggers the problems now?