Walless Counseling Consult & Services

14/07/2023

Symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms may start within one month of a traumatic event, but sometimes symptoms may not appear until years after the event. These symptoms cause significant problems in social or work situations and in relationships. They can also interfere with your ability to go about your normal daily tasks.

PTSD symptoms are generally grouped into four types: intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, and changes in physical and emotional reactions. Symptoms can vary over time or vary from person to person.

Intrusive Memories

Symptoms of intrusive memories may include:
* Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event.
* Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks).
* Upsetting dreams or nightmares about the traumatic event.
* Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the traumatic event.

Avoidance

Symptoms of avoidance may include:
* Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event.
* Avoiding places, activities or people that remind you of the traumatic event.

Negative changes in thinking and mood

Symptoms of negative changes in thinking and mood may include:
* Negative thoughts about yourself, other people or the world.
* Hopelessness about the future.
* Memory problems, including not remembering important aspects of the traumatic event.
* Difficulty maintaining close relationships.
* Feeling detached from family and friends.
* Lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed.
* Difficulty experiencing positive emotions.
* Feeling emotionally numb.

Changes in physical and emotional reactions

Symptoms of changes in physical and emotional reactions (also called arousal symptoms) may include:
* Being easily startled or frightened.
* Always being on guard for danger.
* Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much or driving too fast.
* Trouble sleeping.
* Trouble concentrating.
* Irritability, angry outbursts or aggressive behavior.
* Overwhelming guilt or shame.

For children 6 years old and younger, signs and symptoms may also include:
* Re-enacting the traumatic event or aspects of the traumatic event through play.
* Frightening dreams that may or may not include aspects of the traumatic event
Intensity of symptoms.

PTSD symptoms can vary in intensity over time. You may have more PTSD symptoms when you're stressed in general, or when you come across reminders of what you went through. For example, you may hear a car backfire and relive combat experiences. Or you may see a report on the news about a sexual assault and feel overcome by memories of your own assault.

14/07/2023

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder, also called PTSD is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event; either experiencing it or witnessing it. It is characterised by an inability to recover after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event.

Terrifying events like sexual assault, domestic violence, accidents, war, etc., can leave it’s victims or witnesses traumatized and susceptible to PTSD.

The condition may last months or years, with triggers that can bring back memories of the trauma accompanied by intense emotional and physical reactions.

Most people who go through traumatic events may have temporary difficulty adjusting and coping, but with time and good self-care, they usually get better. If the symptoms get worse, last for months or even years, and interfere with your day-to-day functioning, you may have PTSD.

Symptoms may include:
- [ ] Nightmares or Flashbacks.

- [x] Avoidance of situations that bring back the trauma.

- [ ] Heightened reactivity to stimuli, anxiety or depressed mood.

- [ ] Severe anxiety.

- [ ] Uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

People may also experience:

- [x] Behavioural symptoms: agitation, irritability, hostility, hypervigilance, self-destructive behaviour, or social isolation.

- [x] Psychological Symptoms: flashback, fear, severe anxiety, or mistrust.

- [x] Mood Symptoms: loss of interest or pleasure in activities, guilt, or loneliness.

- [ ] Sleep Symptoms: insomnia or nightmares.

- [x] Also common: emotional detachment or intrusive thought.

17/06/2023

COUNSELLING: HOW TO GO ABOUT IT AND WHAT TO EXPECT

After identifying the issue and need to see or speak with a counsellor, one will need to identify a good counsellor or counselling firm (offline or online).

After making contact, the counselling firm would assign a counsellor to you or the counsellor would schedule an appointment with you.

At your appointment, you'll be encouraged to talk about your feelings and emotions with a trained therapist or counsellor, who'll listen and support you without judging or criticising. Some of the qualities you may experience when you interact with an effective counsellor are unconditional positive regard, empathy, genuiness, etc.,

The therapist or counsellor can help you gain a better understanding of your feelings and thought processes, and find your own solutions to problems through probing, close ended or open ended questions.

The counsellor works with you to come up with viable, workable and possible solutions that will meet your needs.

Counselling can take place:

face to face
in a group
over the phone
by email
online through live chat services (learn more about online tools for mental health)

You may be offered a single session of counselling, a short course of sessions over a few weeks or months, or a longer course that lasts for several months or years.

It can take a number of sessions before you start to see progress, but you should gradually start to feel better with your co-operation and the help and support of your therapist or counsellor.

Send a message to learn more

15/06/2023

Counselling: A Necessity for Everyone

National Health Service (NHS), defined counselling as a talking therapy that involves a trained therapist listening to you and helping you find ways to deal with emotional issues.

Everyone in life face or will face challenges that would warrant the help or guidance of an expert or one who can help one find viable and possible solutions to those challenges.

The term "counselling" is sometimes referred to as talking therapies in general, counselling doesn't just help one offload some weight through verbal interactions with a counsellor but also to see the effect of a distorted thought pattern.

What can counselling help you with?

Counselling can help you cope with the following and even more:

1. Mental health condition, such as depression, anxiety or an eating disorder.

2. Upsetting physical health condition, such as infertility, disabilities, or a disease, etc.

3. Difficult life event, such as a bereavement, a relationship breakdown, work-related stress, or academic issues

4. Dfficult emotions – for instance, low self-esteem or anger, etc.

5. Other issues, such as sexual identity or gender conflict, purpose, spirituality, etc.

We all in one way or the other can benefit from counselling.

Send a message to learn more

21/12/2022

Counselling is a process where an individual, couple or group meet with a trained professional counsellor to talk about issues that they are facing in their lives in order to come up together with viable and workable plans to manage or alleviate the challenge.

Professional counselling is confidential and non-judgmental. It is characterised by acceptance, empathy, unconditional positive regard, genuiness, etc. The counsellor creates a warm and conducive environment for issues to be dealt with effectively.

Below are some of the benefits of counselling:

1. Improved communication and interpersonal skills.

2. Greater self-acceptance and self-esteem.

3. Ability to change self-defeating behaviors/habits.

4. Better expression and management of emotions, including anger, relief from depression, anxiety or other mental health conditions.

5. Increased confidence and decision-making skills.

6. Ability to manage stress effectively.

7. Improved problem-solving and conflict resolution abilities.

8. Greater sense of self and purpose.

9. Recognition of distorted thinking.