How hypnotherapy can help with trauma and PTSD
Understanding the thoughts and symptoms of PTSD and trauma
Everyone’s reaction to a traumatic event is different. Whether they are acts of violence, sexual abuse, war, the loss of a loved one or the experience of a life-threatening illness or serious accident, there is no doubt some people have had some truly awful experiences.
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When looking at a pattern of post-trauma stress, I often need to reinforce to clients that they don’t need to forgive to let go. Clients often say, ‘I'm a survivor’, but it is this belief that is chaining them to past emotions. The assumption that I will never be the same again reinforces the belief that it can’t be changed.
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Most often, they experience unwanted thoughts, flashbacks or nightmares and tend to avoid the things that trigger their traumatic memories. Some even believe that if they remain traumatised, they are somehow holding the perpetrator responsible.
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Most days they can feel disconnected, irritable or angry and experience difficulties with sleeping. Hypnosis therapy and eye movement therapy can help with trauma and PTSD.
Hypnosis for trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder
Traditional trauma therapy often requires re-exposure to the traumatic event, retelling the story, or being asked to rationalise what happened. This can leave people feeling overwhelmed and emotionally spent. But what if there was a way to address trauma without reliving it?
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At the heart of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a hyperactive amygdala, the brain’s 'fight or flight' centre. This overactivation keeps images, thoughts, and feelings from the event alive, disrupting daily life and driving behaviours.
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At Miracle Minds, we combine Multi-Channel Eye Movement Integration (MEMI) and hypnotherapy for trauma to desensitise these images, thoughts and feelings to return the amygdala to its baseline level.
As a psychotherapist and hypnotherapist, ways in which I help guide my clients beyond their trauma or PTSD symptoms include:
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Anchoring them to a positive image or word so they always feel secure and relaxed in therapy.
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Breaking the connection between past events and current images, thoughts, and feelings with eye movement therapy - in as little as 20 minutes.
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Establishing a new baseline for your fight or flight response so you no longer react or respond to people, places or events in unhelpful ways.
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Allowing you to automatically filter out thoughts and feelings you should be ignoring
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Enabling a relaxation response to keep you grounded throughout the day
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Overcoming unhealthy habits
Unlike talk therapy, hypnosis and eye movement therapy encourages helpful cognitive, emotional or physical responses that your brain absorbs and will become your new autopilot. Hypnosis can help with trauma and PTSD.
To understand more about hypnosis for trauma and PTSD treatments, and common questions people have about hypnosis and eye movement therapy, visit the FAQ page.
