Medical PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a specific form of PTSD that is triggered by medical trauma rather than external events like combat, accidents, or violence. It develops when a person experiences a sudden, life-threatening medical emergency, a painful or invasive procedure, or a gruelling chronic illness. While traditional PTSD often stems from an external threat, medical PTSD is unique because the threat comes from inside the person's own body. Key Causes of Medical PTSD Medical trauma can stem from a single terrifying event or the cumulative stress of a prolonged healthcare battle. Common triggers include: Acute Medical Emergencies: Surviving a heart attack, stroke, sudden cardiac arrest, or severe anaphylactic shock. Intensive Care (ICU) Stays: Waking up on a ventilator, experiencing ICU delirium, or witnessing medical emergencies in neighbouring beds. Traumatic Childbirth: Emergency C-sections, severe postpartum haemorrhaging, or situations where the life of the par

Somatic Healing - What is it? Somatic healing is a therapeutic approach that focuses on the connection between the mind and the body. Unlike traditional "talk therapy," which primarily processes experiences through conversation and logic, somatic healing looks at how the body carries stress, trauma, and emotions physically. The word "somatic" comes from the Greek word soma, meaning body. How It Works The core philosophy is that your body "remembers" what your mind might try to forget. When we experience high stress or trauma, our nervous system can get stuck in a "fight, flight, or freeze" response. Somatic healing aims to "reset" the nervous system by focusing on physical sensations rather than just the story of what happened. Instead of asking "Why do you feel this way?", a somatic practitioner might ask: "Where in your body do you feel that tension?" "What is the temperature of that sensation?" "If that tightness had a movement, what would it be?" Common Techniques Somatic healing i

Trauma by Vicki Childs, Reg Counsellor, Clinical Hypnotherapist. Most people have experienced some form of trauma in their lives. Few of us get by unscathed. Trauma is often defined as any single, ongoing, or cumulative distressing event that overwhelms our capacity to cope. The causes and triggers of trauma are diverse and different for every individual. What may be considered traumatic for one person, may be something quite normal for another. Trauma is very much a personal response. Below are the types of trauma we identify and work with as your therapist: Acute Trauma Complex Trauma System Induced Trauma Vicarious Trauma Compassion Fatigue Insidious or Historical Trauma Epigenetic Trauma *Not an exhaustive list, but the main culprits When we are highly stressed or in situation that is unfamiliar and scary our limbic system sets off an alarm bell signalling danger. Our brains then release cortisol to help us feel and stay safe by using our Fight/Flight/Freeze/Face/Fawn instincts. At

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