Sometimes even the most experienced of therapists can wonder why a stressed client does not make progress. It can be like Groundhog Day as your client returns to tell you they are still feeling anxious and depressed. Could it be that PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) or a phobic condition is to blame?
‘Barry sought the help of a counselor as he was feeling depressed. Although he was forty-three he sat shaking and in tears as he recalled the bullying he had received from his father when he was a young boy. His life had been characterized by periods of unemployment, alcoholism, insomnia and debilitating depression. Recalling some of those events he said it was like it just happened yesterday and the thoughts of those difficult times often overwhelmed him. Just an hour later after experiencing the rewind he could think about those hard times without any anxiety.’
PTSD can be the cornerstone that locks anxiety and depression in place
PTSD often goes undiagnosed as it has many guises. The effect of trauma can vary from full-blown depression, flash backs, avoidant behavior and high level’s of agitation, to low mood and mild anxiety. The British Medical Associations criteria for PTSD and phobia’s is complex but even if not medically diagnosed, many people with the above symptoms will find symptoms lifting after being treated with the rewind technique.
