Trauma & PTSD Therapy and Counselling in Surrey

Trauma

From time to time, we may be exposed to deeply traumatic experiences. Trauma can come in many forms, both physical and emotional. It is important to note that emotional trauma can be just as devastating as physical trauma.

How one experiences trauma can be very different. Where one can see an event as slightly disturbing, another can be deeply traumatised. A traumatic event can be anything from the death of a loved one to losing a job or a car accident.

It is important to remember that we can live with a traumatic experience for years without it causing any problems. And suddenly, an event will trigger an emotional/mental response to that past trauma. For many different reasons, whether it’s a historic trauma or a current trauma, it might be time to see professional help.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychological condition triggered by a major traumatic event, such as rape, war, a terrorist act, the death of a loved one, a natural disaster, or a catastrophic accident. It is marked by upsetting memories or thoughts of the ordeal, ‘blunting’ of emotions, increased arousal, and sometimes severe personality changes.

Sometimes the traumatic event we have experienced is too much for our minds to accept. But our symptoms disappear when we start to talk about our trauma.

You may find it helpful to speak to your GP or a trained therapist or counsellor if you are suffering through a traumatic experience.

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Useful Articles

Here is a list of articles on trauma that you might find helpful.

TED Talk: Nadine Burke Harris: Childhood trauma and life long health
Childhood trauma isn’t something you just get over as you grow up. Paediatrician Nadine Burke Harris explains that the repeated stress of abuse, neglect, and parents struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues has real, tangible effects on the development of the brain. This unfolds across a lifetime, to the point where those who’ve experienced high levels of trauma are at triple the risk for heart disease and lung cancer. An impassioned plea for paediatric medicine to confront the prevention and treatment of trauma head-on.

Mental illness soars among young women in England – survey
NHS study finds 12.6% of women aged 16-24 screen positive for PTSD, 19.7% self-harm and 28.2% have mental health conditions.

Mental illness mostly caused by life events not genetics, argue psychologists
Mental illness is largely caused by social crises such as unemployment or childhood abuse, and too much money is spent researching genetic and biological factors, psychologists have warned.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a reaction to exposure to very stressful and traumatising events. People experience flashbacks, panic attacks, and other acute symptoms. It can be treated, so it is important to get expert help.

TED Talk: Sebastian Junger: Our lonely society makes it hard to come home from war
Sebastian Junger has seen war up close, and he knows the impact that battlefield trauma has on soldiers. But he suggests there's another major cause of pain for veterans when they come home: the experience of leaving the tribal closeness of the military and returning to an alienating and bitterly divided modern society.

Poems and Quotes to Inspire You

Dare we hope? We dare.
Can we hope? We can.
Should we hope? We must, because to do otherwise is to waste the most precious of gifts given so freely by God to all of us. So when we do die, it will be with hope and it will be easy and our hearts will not be broken.

Andy Ripley – England and Lions rugby legend, often described as one of the most colourful personalities in the history of English rugby

Charities and support groups

Below you will find a comprehensive list of charities and support groups that offer help and assistance to anyone who is struggling with this mental health issue

Rape Crisis

Rape Crisis Centres offer a range of services for women and girls who have been raped or experienced another form of sexual violence. Rape Crisis Centres are not just for women in ‘crisis’ - many women contact them years after they have been raped or sexually abused. You can contact the National Sexual Violence Helpline for help and advice and can find contact details for your nearest Rape Crisis Centre on Rape Crisis’ website.

Helpline: 0808 802 9999 (Daily, 12pm – 2:30pm, and 7pm – 9:30pm)
Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (Daily, open 24 hours a day)
www.rapecrisis.org.uk

Young Minds

Charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people.

www.youngminds.org.uk
Parents Helpline 0808 802 5544 Monday - Friday 9.30am - 4pm

Support Line

SupportLine provides a confidential telephone helpline offering emotional support to any individual on any issue. The Helpline is primarily a preventative service and aims to support people before they reach the point of crisis. It is particularly aimed at those who are socially isolated, vulnerable, at risk groups and victims of any form of abuse. SupportLine is a member of the Helplines Association. SupportLine also provides support by email and post.

http://www.supportline.org.uk
Helpline: 01708 765 200

Student Minds

Student Minds is the UK's student mental health charity. We believe that peer support can change the state of student mental health. Our vision is for students to take action to foster an environment where everyone has the confidence to talk and listen to each other, the skills to support one another and the knowledge to look after their own mental health.

Helpline: 08444 775 774 Mon-Fri 9:30am - 5.30pm (calls subject to charge)
http://www.studentminds.org.uk/anxiety-disorders.html

Samaritans

The Samaritans provide 24 hour, confidential, emotional support for anyone in crisis.

http://www.samaritans.org/
Helpline 116 123, this number is FREE to call
Email jo@samaritans.org

Elefriends (run by Mind)

Elefriends is a supportive online community where you can be yourself.

We all know what it's like to struggle sometimes, and this is a safe place to listen, share and be heard. Whether you're feeling good right now, or really low, it's a safe place to share experiences and listen to others.

Shared experiences and perspectives are valuable and powerful. In this way Elefriends don't just get help, they give help too. In the good times and the bad.

www.elefriends.org.uk

Off The Record

We believe that young people need places to go which are easy to access, where you are treated with respect, and where you can get support and information to help you make your own life choices. Our services are friendly and welcoming – about 1,000 new young people visit us every year. Available in the Richmond borough.

http://otrtwickenham.com/

Time to Change

Our aim is to start a conversation… or hopefully thousands of conversations.

We want to empower people with mental health problems to feel confident talking about the issue without facing discrimination. And we want the three quarters of the population who know someone with a mental health problem to talk about it too.

http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/

Have I got a Problem?

HaveiGotAproblem.com is a free online resource to help you understand issues or concerns you may have about mental health or addiction issues.

This site was created to give the public information to help them understand mental health and addiction issues and to assist people in making better informed decisions about their life and personal choices.

http://www.haveigotaproblem.com/

Assist Trauma Care

ASSIST Trauma Care is a specialist Third Sector (Not-for-Profit) Organisation offering therapeutic help to adults and children, individuals and families, affected by a wide range of traumatic occurrences.

http://assisttraumacare.org.uk/

HHUGS

Helping Households Under Great Stress (HHUGS) is the only UK registered charity, providing protection, empowerment and support to Muslim households harmfully affected by counter-terrorism and national security legislation in the UK and abroad.

http://www.hhugs.org.uk/

Escaping Victimhood

Escaping Victimhood has been set up to help people whose lives have been fragmented by trauma of serious crime to move from being a victim to a more positive future.

http://www.escapingvictimhood.com/

PTSD UK

Our mission is to provide support and information for anyone experiencing PTSD. We campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding of the condition and treatments available.

http://www.ptsduk.org/

PTSD Resolution

PTSD Resolution is a charity (No. 1133188) that helps Veterans, TA and Reservists who are struggling to reintegrate into a normal work & family life because of military trauma suffered during service in the armed forces.

http://www.ptsdresolution.org/

The Mix

The Mix is the UK’s leading support service for young people. We are here to help you take on any challenge you’re facing - from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs. Talk to us via online, social or our free, confidential helpline.

http://www.themix.org.uk/
Freephone 0808 808 4994

BACP

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy is the professional association for members of the counselling professions in the UK.

https://www.bacp.co.uk

Childline

The UK’s free and confidential helpline is not just for children, it provides help for young people of all ages who are in distress or danger. Counsellors provide advice and support, by phone and online, 24 hours a day.

You can get help and advice about a wide range of issues, including violence and abuse in your relationship on the Childline website. You can also talk to a counsellor online, send an email or post on the message boards.

Whatever your worry, it’s better out than in.

ChildLine has launched an app called Zipit. It helps you get flirty chat back on the right track. It's packed with killer comebacks and top tips to help you stay in control of your chat game. Find out more: childline.org.uk/zipit

Helpline: 0800 1111
www.childline.org.uk

Mind - For Better Mental Health

We provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. We campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. We won't give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect.

http://www.mind.org.uk

Mental Health Foundation

Provides information and support for anyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities.

http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/

SANE

SANE services provide practical help, emotional support and specialist information to individuals affected by mental health problems, their family, friends and carers.

http://www.sane.org.uk/
Helpline 0845 767 8000

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army works closely with addiction referral services as well as providing specialist detox centres in the UK. This is complemented by rehabilitation and support programmes.

http://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/addiction-support

Get Connected

Get Connected is the UK's free, confidential helpline service for young people under 25 who need help, but don't know where to turn.

Helpline: 0808 808 4994
Open from 11am - 11pm every day
http://www.getconnected.org.uk/

Counselling Directory

Counselling Directory aims to be the leading service for providing counselling advice and information - connecting those in distress with the largest support network in the UK.

http://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/

Papyrus UK

Suicide prevention for young people up to the age of 35

https://www.papyrus-uk.org/
Helpline: 0800 068 41 41
Monday - Friday 10am – 5pm & 7pm – 10pm, Weekends 2pm – 5pm

Text: 07786 209697
Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org

Barnardos

Barnardo’s believes in children regardless of their circumstances, gender, race, disability or behaviour. Our purpose as a charity today is to transform the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children. We believe in the abused, the most vulnerable, the forgotten and the neglected. We will support them, stand up for them and bring out the best in each and every child.

www.barnardos.org.uk

Family Lives

Offers support to anyone parenting or helping to raise children, from newborn babies to young adults. There are free telephone and email helplines, parenting courses and information leaflets. The website offers lots of advice, real-life stories and relevant news as well as a helpful A-Z of related topics.

http://www.familylives.org.uk/
Helpline: 0800 800 2222 (9am – 9pm, Monday to Friday;10am – 3pm Saturday and Sunday)

Anxiety UK

Provides support if you have been diagnosed with an anxiety condition.

www.anxietyuk.org.uk
Helpline: 08444 775 774 (Monday – Friday 9.30am – 5.30pm)

Talking 2 Minds

Talking2Minds was established in 2008 with the sole purpose of helping those suffering from PTSD or other severe stress related conditions. Initially, we offered help exclusively to military sufferers. However, as word of our success spread, we found others coming to us from all sectors of society including the “blue light” services and those who had suffered trauma through abuse and horrific accidents.

http://www.talking2minds.co.uk/

Birth Trauma Association

The Birth Trauma Association (BTA) was established in 2004 to support women suffering from Post Natal Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or birth trauma. We are not trained counsellors or therapists or medical professionals. We are mothers who wish to support other women who have suffered difficult births and we aim to offer advice and support to all women who are finding it hard to cope with their childbirth experience.

http://www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk/

Combat Stress

Our Mission is to provide timely, effective clinical treatment and welfare support to Veterans who suffer from psychological wounds.

Helpline: 0800 138 1619
http://www.combatstress.org.uk/

Help for Heroes

Our psychological wellbeing service, H4H Hidden Wounds, can help Veterans and Armed Forces families living with anxiety, depression, stress, anger or alcohol. It is here to help you find ways of dealing with frustration and to help you start enjoying everyday life again. Free and confidential support is delivered by our Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs) by phone, Skype or face to face.

http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/get-support/hidden-wounds/

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