CONDITIONS TREATED

* Trauma / PTSD

* Bipolar Disorder

* Depression and Anxiety

* Psychosis

Much mental suffering is connected to trauma or loss of one kind or another. It can be stored in our body and minds and if not processed have long lasting effects. Indeed most of us are affected with trauma though we may not consider ourselves as having a mental disorder.

Trauma can be termed ‘simple’ or ‘complex’. In simple trauma, usually one episode of trauma has, owing to its shock or severity impaired the brain’s ability to process it as a memory. The trauma is stored as a dysfunctional memory network ‘DMN’ which can impact on one’s functioning and lead to PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).  Characteristics of PTSD are a pattern of intrusive re-enactment of the traumatic event, psychological and emotional arousal often accompanied by hypervigilance and emotional blunting or numbness in the everyday life with a loss of enjoyment and functioning.

Complex trauma is often linked with a series of traumas sometimes in earlier life which affect someone’s quality of life and interpersonal relationships, but is also thought to be linked with dysfunctional memory networks. This can often be connected to avoidance, intolerance or difficulty trusting others or having a lack self confidence and inner resources.

Trauma can be both big and small often referred to as ‘big Ts’ and ‘little Ts’, but all can have a significant impact on quality of life and functioning.

Bipolar disorder (formerly known as manic depression) is characterised by highs and lows in mood. The highs are characteristically greater than five days with an elevated mood and greater than two weeks for low mood. Altered mood is usually considered abnormal when it impacts negatively on someone’s functioning. When someone is high (manic) they may not be able to sleep, they may make rash decisions or take risks that they would not usually take. When someone is low they may be unable to cope with life’s stresses and retreat into themselves. There can be concern about someone’s safety during both highs and lows and risk is important to discuss to ensure a person is safe.

Depression is a common mental health problem affecting up to 15% of the population at some time in their lives. It has core features of low mood, lack of enjoyment in activities and lack of energy. It can be triggered by an adverse event (reactive) or come on seemingly without cause (endogenous). It can vary from mild to severe.   Severe depression requires urgent attention and treatment with a compassionate and consistent approach and follow-up.

The causes of depression can often be linked with stress, lifestyle, loss or bereavement, genetics and development trauma. Although bereavement is a natural human process it can manifest with similar features of depression and can benefit from support if severe or prolonged.

Anxiety is often linked with depression but can exist on its own. It is often associated with bodily forms of unpleasant sensations such as tightness in the abdomen, breathlessness, tingling, sweating or palpitations. There may be associated ruminations or distressing thoughts. It can be linked with worries about interacting with others based on past experience (social anxiety)  and / or worries linked with specific fears (phobias) or open spaces (agoraphobia). Some people experience acute onset of anxiety termed panic attacks and others have more chronic anxieties which they combat through rituals or compulsions that can manifest to counteract obsessive worries (OCD).

Psychosis is a medical term used for a complex array of experiences which affect an individual’s ability to be grounded in everyday reality. Unusual beliefs, hallucinations, disorganised behaviour or disturbed concentration and a changing in functioning.

Presentation can range from distress from voices, a subjective sense of feeling ‘on edge’ or concerns regarding being unsafe or monitored in some way. Experiences of people sensing that there thoughts are interfered with in some way or known about or that they are being referred to in the media in public are not uncommon. Sleep disturbance is common. Self medication with alcohol and/or cannabis can exacerbate conditions and may even trigger a crisis.

Psychosis can be seen in an array of disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, schizoaffective disorder and some conditions related to medical disorders which are termed organic (e.g. delirium, thyroid dysfunction or neurological conditions). It can also be induced by recreational drugs and prescribed medication.