The symptoms of stress are common to the adjustment difficulties experienced across life situations. Where the current global financial crisis has contributed to reduced economic activity effecting the financial sector, construction, manufacturing, small business, professionals and trade workers. In fact all areas of Government and Industry.

Of course its not only financial downturns that effect stress. Buying, selling and moving house, relocating, unemployment, personal injury, the sickness of a loved one, separation, divorce, or death can provide significant challenges and stress. So its not only stress at work, bullying, the management of politics, redundancy, or whether you apply for the promotion contribute to stress.

The symptoms of stress can include:

• Muscle tension
• Withdrawing and self-isolating
• Difficulty relaxing
• Feelings overwhelmed
• Severe cases can be experiencing suicidal thoughts

• An inability to let go of a problem (obsessing)
• Anger and angry responses
• Difficulty coping
• Insomnia or hypersomnia
• Depression

The mix of stress symptoms includes thinking, emotional and behavioural responses, which can seem very difficult to shake. Whether it is the stress of financial problems, a downturn in business activity, insolvency, managing structural changes to your business or managing your career.

Discussing the underlying cause, problem solving, seeking solutions and acceptance can provide the necessary release of pressure to reduce anxiety and stress. Contact us today if what you are experiencing is severely affecting your life or relationships, book an appointment to discuss treatment.

A traumatic event can leave someone experiencing severe anxiety, distressing emotions and being avoidant. If these intense responses remain following an accident, hold ups, rape, or violent attack, the symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder can be quite debilitating.

In the first few weeks following a traumatic incident some people begin to experience more intense distress that begins to interfere with their normal life.

The symptoms of stress can include:

• An intense fear or sense of helplessness
• A decrease in your awareness of your surroundings
• A sense that you are not quite real (Depersonalisation)
• You avoid triggers that cause you to remember the event
• A physical reminder may remind you of the event as if you are reliving the trauma 

• A feeling of being numb
• A sense that things around you are unreal (Derealisation)
• Re-experiencing some of the traumatic event in one or more ways, repeated images, dreams, thoughts or flashbacks, or a thought of re-experiencing the event
• You may feel anxiety (or difficulty sleeping, concentrating, hyper-vigilance) 

The symptoms last up to a month following the traumatic event. Experiencing these symptoms is quite normal following a traumatic event and most people start to improve natural over the first few weeks. But some people begin the experience a lot of distress because of their reactions, or these reactions interfere with their normal lives. If the symptoms last longer than one month, PTSD may have developed. They may benefit from a short term treatment program.

Treatment:

Treatment programs have been found to be very effective in preventing the development of more long-term difficulties.

If you or a loved one have experienced a traumatic event and remain distressed, please contact PsychWell to arrange an initial consultation and discuss the benefits of further treatment. 

Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD) is a common reaction some people develop who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. Most people who experience a trauma will have some kind of psychological reaction, fear, sadness, guilt or anger, but they often quickly improve over time.

Some people go on to experience a more severe reaction to traumatic events called PTSD which can severely disrupt their normal daily lives.

Individuals with PTSD may experience the following symptoms:

• Reliving the trauma can include memories that seem out of control, nightmares and flashbacks that make someone feel as they are reliving the experience all over again. These memories are often triggered by something seen, a sound, or something that reminds them of the event.
• Avoidance is how people often cope with the anxiety that is provoked when reminded of the event. Staying away from the people, places or things that bring back the event. Sometimes, people feel numb or detached from other people or their surroundings, and turn to alcohol or drugs to cope.
• Stress or anxiety is a typical response, interrupted sleep, feeling irritable or angry most of the time, having difficulty concentrating, being easily startled and on guard.

Untreated, PTSD can become a very debilitating disorder, affecting psychological well being and daily living. There are effective treatments of PTSD, many people resolving their symptoms.

Treatment: 

Involves learning abilities to moderate anxiety and stress, desensitisation from the traumatic experiences and learning to feel safe again.

If you or someone you know is feeling the debilitating effects of a traumatic event, call to book an appointment to discuss a treatment program. 

The loss and grief experienced at the death of loved one is personal. When friends and family get back to their daily lives after services are completed, the normal demands of life return. However grief has a way of remaining.

The waves of emotion experienced during grief vary for each person, as does the process of grief. Normally, those waves of emotion, thoughts about the deceased become less. If the emotion, and thoughts continue to influence behaviour, continuing to yearn for your loved love one without respite and being unable to move on with life. This may indicate complicated grief.

Symptoms for complicated grief have normally been experienced for at least six months: 

• Persistent yearning or longing for your loved one
• Frequent thinking about the person who has died
• Disbelief at the death and inability to accept their demise
• Feeling shocked, dazed or numb since the death
• Recurrent feelings of anger or bitterness related to the death
• Frequent intense feelings of loneliness without the person who died 
• Avoiding places, activities, or contact with people who remind you of the deceased 

• Thinking life is unfair or wanting to join the loved one who has died
• Constantly thinking about the death of the loved one or letting them down
• Being unable to care about others or envy of others who have not had your experience
• Experiencing pain that the deceased person had, hearing their voice or seeing them
• Having intense emotional or physical reaction to memories about the person who died 

Normal grief becomes less over time where complicated grief is unrelenting. If untreated, destructive thoughts and behaviours can lead to substance abuse and suicidal ideation. At Psych Well we have successfully treated complicated grief and provide effective therapies to transition the loss of a loved one.

Treatment:

If you or a loved one continue to experience the symptoms of complicated grief help call Psych Well to make an appointment for an initial clinical interview and discuss a treatment plan today.