< Back

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder or more commonly known as PTSD – affects more people in South Africa than is actually realised. The reason being that there are a vast number of different triggers that can catalyse PTSD and unfortunately, the sad reality is that living in South Africa, with the high crime rate, we are in fact quite likely to experience situations that can trigger PTSD. Before we look at what causes/catalyses it, let’s take a quick look at what it actually us!

 

PTSD is caused by a catastrophic stressor – something that is considered/defined to be ‘outside the range of usual human experience ‘such as war, rape, torture or even natural disasters can all commonly lead to PTSD. It is now believe that PTSD can take anything from a few months (usually starts showing after about 3 months) to years in some people to manifest.

 

It is also believed that now that PTSD can now literally rewire our brains. Without getting to technical, it is believed after much study, that it attacks 3 major parts of the brain:

The Amygdala – this region is key for the normal expression of emotions, especially fear. Thus PTSD sufferers will exhibit stress, anxiety and phobias.

The vmPFC – Ventromedial preFrontal Cortex – is one of the more sophisticated parts of the brain – dealing with both emotional processing and decision making processes.

The Hippocampus – this quite a large dealing with memory – very often PTSD will suffer short term memory issues as a result of their condition.

 

They generally breakdown the symptoms into 4 categories:

Re-experiencing:

This includes frequently having upsetting thoughts/nightmares that ensure the sufferer relives the event, this can include recurring nightmares. They can have physical responses or highly explosive emotional responses when reminded about the event. This category includes flashbacks and the distressing consequences they can cause for the sufferer.

 

Avoidance:

These sufferers make an active effort to avoid considering the event in anyway, whether it be thoughts, emotions and conversations. They even go so far as to avoid certain people and places that may trigger a memory of the event. Very often these sufferers may not display many of the other symptoms but they will ensure that their diary is packed with to-do lists that they don’t have time to remember.

 

Hyperarousal:

These sufferers may have difficulty falling asleep, they may have violent, angry outbursts; they will find it difficult to concentrate, they may be jump and easily startled as well as feeling the need to constantly be on guard for potential danger around every corner.

 

Negative thoughts and beliefs:

Many sufferers experience this collective of symptoms. They struggle to feel joy, love and contentment. They feel like their lives may be cut short and they certainly can’t find any positivity or interest in things they may have previously enjoyed.

Unfortunately in today’s fast paced, disposable lifestyle we have so many different factors that can induce us into a state of PTSD. Losing loved ones, divorce, chronic illness, loss of jobs and homes, hijacking, mugging, armed robbery, home invasions not to mention all the factors mentioned at the beginning of this piece.

 

Sadly, we are living in stressful times, so many people fall victim to PTSD without even realising it. On the other side of that, many are aware but the conventional medical treatments to suppress the SYMPTOMS of PTSD are no longer proving to be effective. The US Army has started a programme that has moved their Veterans from being treated medically to now being treated alternatively. They are sending their VETS to yoga and meditation sessions as well as being sent for Reiki treatments. The results have been astounding.

 

So how will Reiki help you? Reiki works gently by letting the flow of energy move through your body. We maintain Chakra health which then keeps our systems; mental, emotional, spiritual and physical all in balance and functioning effectively. Reiki works to REMOVE the energy of the trauma from your system as opposed to just supressing the symptoms. It is gentle, calming and relaxing and does not require that long term medication be introduced to our systems.

 

It too will take some time to work completely through the system. 1 or 2 sessions will not be a quick fix, however; I have had amazing results from clients that I have worked with. Their sleep patterns improve almost immediately, even if they have suffered insomnia for a while. They are calmer and start finding that things feel less overwhelming for them. Everything is made of energy, so it makes sense that energy is what can heal us!

 

If you are struggling or you know a loved one that is, please consider Reiki as a means of healing. I can say that having gone through a very traumatic divorce, being able to self-heal with Reiki certainly saved me. There were still incredibly rough emotional patches but I got through the other side, healed with no residual negativity from the situation.

 

I sincerely hope that this provides some insight!

In light and love always,

Mara xxx