Signs to watch for
After a shock it is normal to feel shaken for a few days. When the reactions last or get stronger, we speak of post-traumatic stress. Common signs include:
- images or memories that come back without warning;
- nightmares and restless sleep;
- avoiding anything that recalls the event;
- being constantly on guard, jumping at the slightest noise;
- irritability, or feeling detached from the people close to you.
These reactions are not a sign of weakness. They show an alarm system that has stayed stuck on “danger”.
Step-by-step work
We don't start by going over the event in detail. The first sessions are about regaining some stability: sleeping better, lowering the tension, knowing what to do when a memory surfaces. Controlled breathing and relaxation help from this stage on.
Then, at your pace, we go back to what happened so that the memory gradually loses its charge. The aim is for it to become a painful moment in your story, rather than something that replays in the present.
When to seek help
If the symptoms are still there a month after the event, or they affect your work, sleep or relationships, it is a good time to talk about it. The same goes for older events that come back to the surface.