Originally published November 3, 2010

As a hypnotist we require a medical or mental health professional referral to work with anyone who has a mental diagnosis. That being said we have a lot of people who suffer from PTSD in our offices.

PTSD is caused an by an event in which the person experienced or witnessed an event that death or serious injury was actual or threatened. The threat could be of the self or another person. Normally the response evoked feelings of fear, helplessness, horror or panic. PTSD experiences become embedded in your subconscious mind and and body. 

• 20 million americans suffer from PTSD
• Over 10 million suffers are women
• 7-8 % of the population suffer from PTSD in their lifetime, women 10.4 %
• Women usually cope with symptoms by using legal or illegal drugs
• For children the stressor does not need to be real, but may be imagined
• Excess alcohol is a method of choice for women

A hypnotist will be dealing with the client’s perception of the event more so than the actual event itself. Following is a list of feelings that might be impacted positively through hypnosis imagery and suggestions:

• Anger and aggression
• Fears
• Flashbacks or illusions
• Grief
• Guilt or self-blame
• Intrusive thoughts and worrying
• Mental replaying
• Sadness
• Self-esteem & removing shame
• Forgetting

We always have a stong referral network to doctors, psychologist, social workers and counselors that we often work with, but the unique situation with hypnosis is that all healing is self-generated. I find that clients are relieved to find they are not alone in their situation and are delighted to realize they have to power to take back their lives.