Trauma can be defined by the emotional response to a deeply distressing event or a series of enduring events. At Aspris, we recognize that trauma is subjective; not everyone will react to the same event in the same way, and trauma affects people in different ways. As such, Aspris's comprehensive trauma treatment program not only treats individual issues arising as a result of trauma but also helps a patient to address and process the original source of their own trauma. Learn more about trauma therapy and PSTD treatment available at Aspris Wellbeing Centres in Riyadh and speak to one of our experienced psychologists to help overcome your trauma.
What is trauma?
Trauma is a psychological reaction to an event and can have many different causes such as:
- Abuse/violence (either a standalone event or recurring events)
- Being involved in an accident (e.g. a car accident)
- Being involved in catastrophic events (either natural events such as earthquakes or man-made events such as war/terrorism)
- Physical injury (e.g. amputations, disability)
- Terminal illness/bereavement
What are the signs and symptoms of trauma?
Some people experience the symptoms of trauma immediately after the traumatic event, whereas in others, symptoms can take weeks, months or even years to manifest. The most common term used to describe the long lasting effects of trauma is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can be defined as an enduring anxiety disorder, often characterised by ongoing symptoms such as:
- Insomnia
- Flashbacks/nightmares
- Depression
- Experiencing difficult emotions such as guilt, anger, and anxiety
- Addictive behaviors
The Aspris trauma therapy programme has been devised according to a well-established trauma treatment model which aims to stabilise an individual before addressing the original cause of the trauma. It also includes reintegrating the person back into their community, work and environment. The three core areas of the Priory trauma treatment programme are as follows:
1. Stabilisation: when a person is first referred to the Priory, the resulting symptoms of the trauma (e.g. depression, addictions) are explored and identified as an initial step, so that these can be treated appropriately. These ongoing issues may require their own treatment programmes in order to stabilise an individual, before the source of the trauma can be addressed.
2. Processing and mourning of trauma memory: this involves processing the memories of the trauma to achieve lessening of the emotional intensity associated with them. This is usually done using two evidence-based therapies; eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) and trauma-focused cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT).
3. Reconnecting with the world: this step aims to effectively reintegrate patients back into their community, work and other aspects of life.
The Aspris trauma programme is widely regarded to be a highly effective technique in the treatment of trauma and post-trauma.
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For further information on the mental health services we provide, please submit an enquiry form in confidence. We will provide you with details on all our treatments and offer help on how to manage your mental health.