Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Recovery - PTSD Therapy Kenilworth

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Recovery - PTSD Therapy Kenilworth Results Driven Hypnotherapy with Stuart Downing
Helping you live the life you deserve. Call now : PTSD is essentially a memory filing error.

It can happen when people are exposed to an extraordinary life-threatening situation which is perceived with intense fear, horror and helplessness. At the time someone is being exposed to this intensely fearful situation, their mind 'suspends' normal operations and it copes as well as it can in order to survive. This might involve reactions such as 'freezing to the spot' or instead the opposite 'f

light away' from the danger. Usually the individual is aware of coping in an automated manner. Many Veterans will say later that their 'training took over' and they survived. The mind does not lay a memory for the frightening event or events in a normal way because it has delayed this until the danger passes. The rule is that once the danger has passed, the mind will try to file away the memory. This means it tries to file the facts of what happened, the emotions associated with the trauma and the sensations (eg: touch, taste, sound, vision, movement, and smell). The problem is that when the mind presents the memory for filing it can be very distressing. The mind repeatedly and automatically presents the memory in the form of nightmares, flashbacks and intrusive unwanted memories. These "re-experiencing" phenomena are the mind's way of trying to file away the distressing memory. The re-experiencing can be very unpleasant and distressing because of the nature of the traumatic experience it exposes the sufferer to. The individual also finds that his or her levels of arousal (awareness) change. People can become hyper-aroused and suffer intense symptoms of anxiety (both physical: with shortness of breath and a racing heart, as well as emotional: feeling on edge, looking out for signs of danger and being 'on patrol' all the time or feeling panicky). Many also feel emotionally numb and have trouble communicating with others without feeling numb or irritable or both. These hyper-arousal and emotional numbness symptoms become so unpleasant that then individual then starts to avoid anything linked to the original trauma, this happens automatically. The person then avoids anything that causes upset or irritation or that might represent danger occurs. Avoidance can become the main coping mechanism in most situations. The more the individual avoids things, including confronting what happened, the less likely is it that any memory processing will occur, and the more likely it is that further attempts at filing a memory will occur automatically. This leads to further re-experiencing nightmares, flashbacks and intrusive memories. These re-experiencing symptoms then lead on to further hyper-arousal and emotional numbing, and this in turn leads on to more avoidance and so on. This is how the symptoms clusters perpetuate themselves in a vicious cycle which can go on for years. In the majority of people, however, the three symptom clusters (which represent the immediate psychological reaction to an extraordinary situation) settles down. In some people it can 'stick' and become chronic. If this is the case, PTSD may be said to be present. This theory is based in Horowitz's Information Processing Model. For treatment to be successful, information processing must be completed. This is why therapies aimed at helping the individual to process and work through the traumatic material are extremely beneficial. PTSD therefore comprises three symptom clusters:
Re-experiencing of the traumatic experience
Hyper-arousal and emotional numbing
Avoidance. It should be noted that the more people try to use avoidance as their main coping mechanism, the more likely it will be that they isolate themselves and many become depressed. Many also avoid unpleasant irritability and hyperarousal by drinking alcohol. Some will use drugs, medications or other substances to 'feel alive'; and to counteract the emotional numbing they feel. There may be an aspect of your life you want to change but something stops you or sabotages your intentions and you wonder why. This is typical of an inner conflict at a subconscious level for which hypnotherapy is very effective. As your hypnotherapist, I help you access the infinite resources of your subconscious mind in order to bring about the ther**eutic changes you desire. Hypnosis can be traced back to the ancient Babylonians, Greeks and Egyptians and is named after the Greek word for sleep – Hypnos. In Hypnosis, sleep does not mean the same as we understand our bedtime sleep to be. A good way to think of Hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation and focus. You are in control, not the Hypnotist. As you can go into this trance state, so you can come out of it whenever you want. When your conscious mind relaxes and becomes detached from everyday worries, then your subconscious mind can commence doing its wonderful work, in its own wonderful way, free from interruptions and sabotage from your conscious mind. This relaxed state is known as trance. Research has shown that our unconscious mind makes 90% of our decisions and that behaviors are established at a very young age. The unconscious mind’s primary function is to protect us. However, behaviors learned at a young age are not always helpful in dealing with issues that we face as adults. Although our conscious mind knows how to deal with situations rationally, the unconscious mind which is the driving force, can create a raft of limiting and unhelpful behaviors because of early programming. Life changes, and so can you! Call Stuart: +44 7825 599340

Insomnia and Sleep issues Lying awake at night, staring at the ceiling, feeling wired but exhausted? If that sounds fami...
10/02/2025

Insomnia and Sleep issues
Lying awake at night, staring at the ceiling, feeling wired but exhausted?
If that sounds familiar , there’s a good chance your cortisol levels are out of control.
And here’s the deal: high cortisol is more than just a bad night’s sleep—it’s a serious roadblock to your health, energy, and your ability to hit the flow state.
Cortisol is your body’s built-in alarm system.
It’s meant to help you handle stress, but when it sticks around too long—especially at night—it can wreak havoc on your sleep.
Studies show that elevated evening cortisol is one of the biggest culprits behind tossing and turning, disrupted sleep cycles, and that feeling of being “tired but wired”.
When your cortisol levels are too high in the evening, your body stays in a state of alertness, making it nearly impossible to relax and fall asleep.
And poor sleep doesn’t just affect your mood—it drags down your entire health, energy, and performance.
The Cost of High Cortisol:
1. Disrupted Sleep
High cortisol messes with your body’s natural circadian rhythm, making it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. You wake up feeling drained, no matter how long you’ve been in bed.
2. Increased Stress and Anxiety
Cortisol is linked to heightened stress responses. If your cortisol stays high, your body is constantly in “fight-or-flight” mode, which leads to more stress, anxiety, and mental fog during the day.
3. Blocked Flow State
Cortisol doesn’t just affect your sleep—it blocks your ability to enter the flow state. The flow state is where you’re fully focused and performing at your best, but high cortisol keeps your brain stuck in overdrive, making it impossible to focus deeply or think creatively.
Now, imagine what happens when you cut evening cortisol by 25%.
You’re not just lowering your stress—you’re giving your body the green light to relax, sleep deeply, and wake up energized.
Lowering cortisol improves your sleep quality, reduces anxiety, and opens the door for you to finally access the flow state.
When cortisol comes down:
1. Deep, Restorative Sleep
Lower cortisol allows your body to enter its natural rest-and-recover mode, improving sleep quality and helping you wake up refreshed and ready to take on the day.
2. Reduced Anxiety, More Clarity
When your cortisol levels are balanced, you’ll notice less anxiety, better mental clarity, and an increased sense of calm. This sets you up for a more productive, focused day.
3. More Consistent Flow State
With cortisol in check, your mind and body can work together, making it easier to slip into the flow state—where creativity, focus, and high performance come effortlessly.
You don’t have to spend another night staring at the ceiling, trapped in a cycle of poor sleep and high stress.
Lowering your evening cortisol naturally is possible, and it’s the key to better sleep, more energy, and consistent access to the flow state.
Call Stuart - 07825 599340 to discuss your insomnia issue in more detail
Email - stuart .co.uk
https://hypnotherapy4freedom.co.uk/.../hypnotherapy-for...
Client reviews - https://hypnotherapy4freedom.co.uk/reviews

Stuart Downing is a trusted hypnotherapist helping clients overcome their issues across the UK and worldwide. Read his reviews here.

25/01/2025

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
To qualify for post-traumatic stress disorder as per the DSM you must have previously experienced an actual or threatened death, serious injury or s*xual violence in at least one of the following ways:
Direct experience.
Witnessing an event in person.
Hearing of a traumatic event that occurred to a close family member or friend. The actual or threatened death must have been violent or accidental.
Experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to unpleasant details of traumatic events.
After the event you experience recurrent and intrusive memories that you cannot control, including dreams. You might also experience flashbacks in which it feels as though the event is reoccurring. You might feel distress at exposure to things that relate to the event in some way and avoid people, places, objects, or situations that bring back memories of the event. You might also do things yourself to avoid the memories.
You have found a mood change and/or a change in your cognitive functioning because of the event. Such as negative beliefs about yourself and a negative emotional state. Lack of interest in activities, detachment from others, inability to experience positive emotions. You find yourself to be more reactionary since the event, feel irritable and express that with angry outbursts. Your behaviour might be reckless or self-destructive. The feelings or thoughts affect your sleep and you struggle to concentrate.
Call Stuart -07825 599340 to discuss how therapy can resolve your social anxiety issues
Online appointments available
See what our clients say -
https://www.stuartdowning.co.uk/client-reviews
stuart@stuartdowning.co.uk

Stuart Downing is an expert life coach offering life and business coaching in London, across the UK, internationally, and online coaching.

Poor body image can affect intimacy and libido Communicating our feelings and desires, removing limiting beliefs and emb...
21/04/2022

Poor body image can affect intimacy and libido
Communicating our feelings and desires, removing limiting beliefs
and embarrassing emotions can all contribute to a healthy relationship.
Anxiety...blame.. shame. .jealousy can all interfere with our need for
fulfilment ,security and relationship happiness .
Increased desire.... arousal .....increased satisfaction can all contribute to loving, secure happy relationships and feelings of high self esteem .
Zoom appointments available
Call Stuart - 07825 599340 for a free in confidence telephone consultation
Email - stuart@stuartdowning.co.uk
https://hypnotherapy4freedom.com/.../hypnotherapy-for...
What our clients say - https://www.stuartdowning.co.uk/client-reviews
https://youtu.be/giMOxVmuaVI

S*x Therapy can help you if you're experiencing difficulties in your love life and can help you to improve physical intimacy. If s*xual problems are preventi...

E.M.D.R therapy for effective treatment of emotional traumaMany people suffer from emotional trauma in Birmingham. When ...
17/04/2022

E.M.D.R therapy for effective treatment of emotional trauma

Many people suffer from emotional trauma in Birmingham. When people don’t receive treatment for the emotional trauma they often experience depression, anxiety, panic ,emotional numbness, loss of interest in activities, nightmares, and much more. Fortunately, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for emotional trauma in Edgbaston, Birmingham has proven successful for many people and allowed them to overcome trauma and lead a healthy life.

What is emotional trauma?
When people suffer from a single or a series of distressing events that affect their mental sanity, they experience an emotional response known as trauma. Negative events that can result in emotional trauma include r**e or other forms of s*xual violence, horrific accidents, abuse during childhood years, combat, natural disaster, and more.



Short-term reactions to trauma include sudden shock or denial whereas long-term symptoms can manifest in the form of mood swings, flashbacks, relationship troubles,panic and more. Emotional trauma can be categorized into two types: acute emotional trauma and chronic emotional trauma.

Symptoms of trauma
Whether you suffer from physical or emotional trauma, the symptoms of trauma can manifest in a number of ways. People who experience any kind of trauma often experience an adjustment disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).



The psychical symptoms of emotional trauma include:



● Changes in attitude, behaviour, attention, memory retrieval, concentration, and world view

● Anger, depression, guilt, shame, and anxiety

● Frequent mood swings

● Denial

● Social withdrawal

● Emotional numbness

● A feeling of fear and helplessness

● Dissociation

● Emotional numbness



The psychological symptoms of emotional trauma include:



● Nightmares

● Fatigue

● Increased heart rate

● S*xual dysfunction

● Jumpiness or feeling on edge

● Appetite changes

● Body aches or pain

● Tense muscles

What is EMDR therapy?
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a form of psychotherapy that uses rhythmic left-right (bilateral) simulation to help people overcome emotional trauma, negative experiences, and painful memories that cause post-traumatic stress.



EMDR therapy aims to trigger the traumatic experiences in small segments to allow you to process the painful emotions associated with traumatic memory including the sight, words, sounds, and smell triggers in a safe manner. The main objective is to change how the memory is stored in your brain in order to reduce or eliminate the negative symptoms.



It is also used to treat other forms of mental health conditions including depression, addiction,anxiety. phobias, eating disorders, panic attacks, chronic pain, and more.

How does EMDR therapy work?
Typically, the EMDR therapy treatment involves a total of 6 to 12 sessions where you have to visit the EMDR therapist once or twice a week. It involves eight phases that focus on the past, present, and future to help you unwrap the emotional trauma and learn the skills that will allow you to deal with present and future stress.



The phases of EMDR therapy include:



● Phase 1: History-Taking

● Phase 2: Preparation

● Phase 3: Assessment

● Phase 4: Desensitization

● Phase 5: Installation

● Phase 6: Body Scan

● Phase 7: Closure

● Phase 8: Re-evaluation



If you or your loved ones need to treat emotional trauma with EMDR therapy in Edgbaston, Birmingham, book an appointment with us today.

See what our clients say - https://www.stuartdowning.co.uk/client-reviews

Call- 0121 403 3163 / 07825 599340 for a free 30 minute confidential consultation.

EMDR Therapy Birmingham

Quadrant Court

51-52 Calthorpe Road

Edgbaston

Birmingham

B15 1TH



stuart@stuartdowning.co.uk

stuart@emdrtherapybirmingham.co.uk

www.emdrtherapybirmingham.co.uk



https://www.facebook.com/Stuart.EMDR.TherapyBirmingham

https://twitter.com/UkEDMR

E.M.D.R therapy for effective treatment of emotional traumaMany people suffer from emotional trauma in Birmingham and wo...
17/04/2022

E.M.D.R therapy for effective treatment of emotional trauma
Many people suffer from emotional trauma in Birmingham and worldwide . When people don’t receive treatment for the emotional trauma they often experience depression, anxiety, panic ,emotional numbness, loss of interest in activities, nightmares, and much more. Fortunately, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for emotional trauma in Edgbaston, Birmingham has proven successful for many people and allowed them to overcome trauma and lead a healthy life.
What is emotional trauma?
When people suffer from a single or a series of distressing events that affect their mental sanity, they experience an emotional response known as trauma. Negative events that can result in emotional trauma include r**e or other forms of s*xual violence, horrific accidents, abuse during childhood years, combat, natural disaster, and more.
Short-term reactions to trauma include sudden shock or denial whereas long-term symptoms can manifest in the form of mood swings, flashbacks, relationship troubles, panic and more. Emotional trauma can be categorized into two types: acute emotional trauma and chronic emotional trauma.
Symptoms of trauma
Whether you suffer from physical or emotional trauma, the symptoms of trauma can manifest in a number of ways. People who experience any kind of trauma often experience an adjustment disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
The physical symptoms of emotional trauma include:
● Changes in attitude, behaviour, attention, memory retrieval, concentration, and world view
● Anger, depression, guilt, shame, and anxiety
● Frequent mood swings
● Denial
● Social withdrawal
● Emotional numbness
● A feeling of fear and helplessness
● Dissociation
● Emotional numbness
The psychological symptoms of emotional trauma include:
● Nightmares
● Fatigue
● Increased heart rate
● S*xual dysfunction
● Jumpiness or feeling on edge
● Appetite changes
● Body aches or pain
● Tense muscles
What is EMDR therapy?
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a form of psychotherapy that uses rhythmic left-right (bilateral) simulation to help people overcome emotional trauma, negative experiences, and painful memories that cause post-traumatic stress.
EMDR therapy aims to trigger the traumatic experiences in small segments to allow you to process the painful emotions associated with traumatic memory including the sight, words, sounds, and smell triggers in a safe manner. The main objective is to change how the memory is stored in your brain in order to reduce or eliminate the negative symptoms.
It is also used to treat other forms of mental health conditions including depression, addiction, anxiety. phobias, eating disorders, panic attacks, chronic pain, and more.
How does EMDR therapy work?
Typically, the EMDR therapy treatment involves a total of 6 to 12 sessions where you have to visit the EMDR therapist once or twice a week. It involves eight phases that focus on the past, present, and future to help you unwrap the emotional trauma and learn the skills that will allow you to deal with present and future stress.
The phases of EMDR therapy include:
● Phase 1: History-Taking
● Phase 2: Preparation
● Phase 3: Assessment
● Phase 4: Desensitization
● Phase 5: Installation
● Phase 6: Body Scan
● Phase 7: Closure
● Phase 8: Re-evaluation
If you or your loved ones need to treat emotional trauma with EMDR therapy in Edgbaston, Birmingham, book an appointment with us today.
Call- 0121 403 3163 / 07825 599340 for a free 30 minute confidential consultation.
EMDR Therapy Birmingham
Quadrant Court
51-52 Calthorpe Road
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 1TH
See what our clients say - https://www.stuartdowning.co.uk/client-reviews
stuart@stuartdowning.co.uk
stuart@emdrtherapybirmingham.co.uk
www.emdrtherapybirmingham.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/Stuart.EMDR.TherapyBirmingham
https://twitter.com/UkEDMR

14/02/2022
15/10/2021
Hypnotherapy and the Subconscious mind .Call Stuart - 07825 599340 or email stuart@stuartdowning.co.uk Online Zoom appoi...
12/10/2021

Hypnotherapy and the Subconscious mind .

Call Stuart - 07825 599340 or email stuart@stuartdowning.co.uk

Online Zoom appointments available

Hypnotherapy and the power of the subconscious mind over the conscious mind , Subconscious mind where all your habits , addictions and emotions reside ,Subc...

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)To qualify for post-traumatic stress disorder as per the DSM you must have previous...
22/05/2021

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
To qualify for post-traumatic stress disorder as per the DSM you must have previously experienced an actual or threatened death, serious injury or s*xual violence in at least one of the following ways:
Direct experience.
Witnessing an event in person.
Hearing of a traumatic event that occurred to a close family member or friend. The actual or threatened death must have been violent or accidental.
Experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to unpleasant details of traumatic events.
After the event you experience recurrent and intrusive memories that you cannot control, including dreams. You might also experience flashbacks in which it feels as though the event is reoccurring. You might feel distress at exposure to things that relate to the event in some way and avoid people, places, objects, or situations that bring back memories of the event. You might also do things yourself to avoid the memories.
You have found a mood change and/or a change in your cognitive functioning because of the event. Such as negative beliefs about yourself and a negative emotional state. Lack of interest in activities, detachment from others, inability to experience positive emotions. You find yourself to be more reactionary since the event, feel irritable and express that with angry outbursts. Your behaviour might be reckless or self-destructive. The feelings or thoughts affect your sleep and you struggle to concentrate.
Call Stuart -07825 599340 to discuss how therapy can resolve your social anxiety issues
Online appointments available
See what our clients say -
https://www.stuartdowning.co.uk/client-reviews
stuart@stuartdowning.co.uk

09/05/2021

Client review posted today- on independently verified review site regarding my clients coaching experience.
Call Stuart - 07825 599340 for a no obligation call to discuss how coaching can be beneficial to you .
stuart@stuartdowning.co.uk
www.stuartdowning.co.uk
Online appointments available now
https://www.stuartdowning.co.uk/client-reviews

I cannot recommend Stuart enough. Stuarts professionalism and understanding of such a wide variety of life issues that effect mental health, relationships and personal development allowed me to work a process of recovery from rock bottom. Stuart is not just a Hypnotherapist his talking therapy is al...

Address

12 New Street
Kenilworth
CV82EZ

Telephone

+447825599340

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Recovery - PTSD Therapy Kenilworth posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Recovery - PTSD Therapy Kenilworth:

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Therapy Kenilworth Warwickshire

PTSD is essentially a memory filing error. It can happen when people are exposed to an extraordinary life-threatening situation which is perceived with intense fear, horror and helplessness. At the time someone is being exposed to this intensely fearful situation, their mind 'suspends' normal operations and it copes as well as it can in order to survive. This might involve reactions such as 'freezing to the spot' or instead the opposite 'flight away' from the danger. Usually the individual is aware of coping in an automated manner. Many Veterans will say later that their 'training took over' and they survived. The mind does not lay a memory for the frightening event or events in a normal way because it has delayed this until the danger passes. The rule is that once the danger has passed, the mind will try to file away the memory. This means it tries to file the facts of what happened, the emotions associated with the trauma and the sensations (eg: touch, taste, sound, vision, movement, and smell). The problem is that when the mind presents the memory for filing it can be very distressing. The mind repeatedly and automatically presents the memory in the form of nightmares, flashbacks and intrusive unwanted memories. These "re-experiencing" phenomena are the mind's way of trying to file away the distressing memory. The re-experiencing can be very unpleasant and distressing because of the nature of the traumatic experience it exposes the sufferer to. The individual also finds that his or her levels of arousal (awareness) change. People can become hyper-aroused and suffer intense symptoms of anxiety (both physical: with shortness of breath and a racing heart, as well as emotional: feeling on edge, looking out for signs of danger and being 'on patrol' all the time or feeling panicky). Many also feel emotionally numb and have trouble communicating with others without feeling numb or irritable or both. These hyper-arousal and emotional numbness symptoms become so unpleasant that then individual then starts to avoid anything linked to the original trauma, this happens automatically. The person then avoids anything that causes upset or irritation or that might represent danger occurs. Avoidance can become the main coping mechanism in most situations. The more the individual avoids things, including confronting what happened, the less likely is it that any memory processing will occur, and the more likely it is that further attempts at filing a memory will occur automatically. This leads to further re-experiencing nightmares, flashbacks and intrusive memories. These re-experiencing symptoms then lead on to further hyper-arousal and emotional numbing, and this in turn leads on to more avoidance and so on. This is how the symptoms clusters perpetuate themselves in a vicious cycle which can go on for years. In the majority of people, however, the three symptom clusters (which represent the immediate psychological reaction to an extraordinary situation) settles down. In some people it can 'stick' and become chronic. If this is the case, PTSD may be said to be present. This theory is based in Horowitz's Information Processing Model. For treatment to be successful, information processing must be completed. This is why therapies aimed at helping the individual to process and work through the traumatic material are extremely beneficial. PTSD therefore comprises three symptom clusters: Re-experiencing of the traumatic experience Hyper-arousal and emotional numbing Avoidance. It should be noted that the more people try to use avoidance as their main coping mechanism, the more likely it will be that they isolate themselves and many become depressed. Many also avoid unpleasant irritability and hyperarousal by drinking alcohol. Some will use drugs, medications or other substances to 'feel alive'; and to counteract the emotional numbing they feel. There may be an aspect of your life you want to change but something stops you or sabotages your intentions and you wonder why. This is typical of an inner conflict at a subconscious level for which hypnotherapy is very effective. As your hypnotherapist, I help you access the infinite resources of your subconscious mind in order to bring about the ther**eutic changes you desire. Hypnosis can be traced back to the ancient Babylonians, Greeks and Egyptians and is named after the Greek word for sleep – Hypnos. In Hypnosis, sleep does not mean the same as we understand our bedtime sleep to be. A good way to think of Hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation and focus. You are in control, not the Hypnotist. As you can go into this trance state, so you can come out of it whenever you want. When your conscious mind relaxes and becomes detached from everyday worries, then your subconscious mind can commence doing its wonderful work, in its own wonderful way, free from interruptions and sabotage from your conscious mind. This relaxed state is known as trance. Research has shown that our unconscious mind makes 90% of our decisions and that behaviors are established at a very young age. The unconscious mind’s primary function is to protect us. However, behaviors learned at a young age are not always helpful in dealing with issues that we face as adults. Although our conscious mind knows how to deal with situations rationally, the unconscious mind which is the driving force, can create a raft of limiting and unhelpful behaviors because of early programming. Life changes, and so can you! Call Stuart: 07825 599340

stuart@hypnotherapy4freedom.com

www.hypnotherapy4freedom.com