Do I Need to Relive Trauma in Therapy?

Why Many People Fear Trauma Therapy

This is such a common question and anxiety I hear from people suffering with traumatic memories they try so hard to avoid on a daily basis. Many people worry about having to feel re-traumatised or for their symptoms to first worsen in order to improve. The thought of opening up old wounds is often overwhelming enough to stop people seeking therapy altogether.

Trauma therapy does not have to work like this!

If you’ve experienced trauma, PTSD or complex PTSD, you may already feel exhausted from carrying the emotional weight of the past. Flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, hypervigilance, emotional numbness, panic, irritability, poor sleep and feeling disconnected from the world can begin to affect almost every part of life. The idea of repeatedly revisiting painful experiences and reliving trauma in therapy can understandably feel frightening.

Can Trauma Be Processed Without Reliving It In Therapy?

It is possible to process traumatic, distressing memories and experiences into what we term ‘narrative memories’; a healthy, properly contextualised memory of a past event/s stored in the cerebral cortex (the clever, highly evolved part) and the hippocampus (the memory store), that can be recalled without triggering a high emotional or physical stress response.

What Is The Rewind Technique?

The most non-invasive, effective method to achieve this is known as the ‘Rewind technique’, which you can read more about here. The Rewind technique for trauma and PTSD is designed to help distressing memories lose their emotional intensity without needing to repeatedly revisit painful details.

What Changes Do People Often Notice Afterwards?

With this technique, many people are also surprised as to how quickly symptoms can start to alleviate and shift once the nervous system no longer feels trapped in a constant state of threat. This often means flashbacks and nightmares become a thing of the past or significantly less emotionally charged, you feel in control of anxiety rather than it controlling you, sleep feels restorative and restful, and confidence returns with your ability to feel present again.

Trauma Therapy Should Feel Safe

Trauma can make people feel disconnected from themselves, the people closest to them and from life itself. With the right support, many people begin to feel calmer,

lighter and more like themselves again.

Get Support For Trauma Today