Could it be post traumatic stress disorder?

Post traumatic stress often goes undetected.  Why is this when the symptoms are wide ranging and long lasting, affecting how you experience yourself, how you relate to others and how you interact with the outside world?

Experiencing or witnessing traumatic events such as sexual, physical and psychological abuse, natural disasters, accidents and war can cause highly distressing psychological reactions. The fear and helplessness that is felt at the time of the trauma can continue to be felt long after the trauma has ended. When trauma is prolonged and repeated many will develop post traumatic stress disorder.

Read more: Could it be post traumatic stress disorder?

Resilient? What if we are not feeling that?

We are hearing the word 'resilient' a lot at the moment, as Cantabrians are being praised for their strength and resilience.

It does feel like the media and speechwriters are trying to make us feel good, but being repeatedly told that we are strong, and stoic can make us hesitant to acknowledge that we may not feel that way, and that it is not ok to have the feelings that we are experiencing and that worse, it is something to be ashamed of.

Read more: Resilient? What if we are not feeling that?

Am I Experiencing Earthquake Trauma?

The Talking Therapy centre is offering couselling for anyone experiencing trauma as a result of the Christchurch Earthquake.

If you think you may be experiencing trama as a result of the Christchurch Earthquake, we encourage you to read our article on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The Talking Therapy Centre practitioners are experienced in offering psychotherapy for anyone experiencing trauma as a result of the Christchurch Earthquake, you can read about our approach, Earthquake Trauma in the Therapy Room.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the Christchurch Earthquakes

Little did we know when the Talking Therapy website was developed in 2009, and we published an article on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, that Christchurch would soon become a natural disaster zone, with events occurring that would cause prolonged and repetitive fear and helplessness, making us all susceptible to post traumatic stress.

Read more: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the Christchurch Earthquakes

Earthquake trauma in the therapy room

Christchurch has experienced four serious earthquakes since September 4^th 2010, with one being on Boxing Day that year, and the devastating one on February 22^nd 2011 where over 180 people lost their lives, and where the central city has been devastated as well as many suburbs.

Read more: Earthquake trauma in the therapy room