Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that is caused by a painful, usually life threatening event that is either directly experienced or witnessed. It is characterized by “jumpiness”, emotional numbing, avoidance of anything that reminds of the event and intrusive and distressing memories or thoughts of the traumatic event. It can be caused by car accidents, child abuse, spouse abuse, rape, robbery or any sufficiently frightening event, even a serious illness. 

Both hypnosis and biofeedback can make a major contribution to the treatment of PTSD. Biofeedback by helping teach relaxation techniques to reduce fearfulness and hypnosis to help remember the traumatic event safely and comfortably. Neurofeedback has also been used to help people become “unstuck” from the past.