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Tag: distress

Visit our website & see how we help emergency services with #ptsd #trauma #anxiety #depression #stress

We have a proud and history of supporting emergency services and their people in the aftermath of critical incidents.

Our experience of counter-terror psychological recovery and major critical Incident Stress Management operations is unrivalled, & we can demonstrate a remarkable level of effectiveness compared with normative counsellors or therapists.

Our facilitators are all serving or former emergency service and military personnel.

  • They don’t judge
  • They don’t label
  • They don’t diagnose
  • They don’t interpret
  • They don’t teach people to ‘cope’.

They just get results.

They speak the same language as your teams, because they’ve  been there.

To find out how we can help your people and organisation to secure and retain good mental health in the most difficult of conditions, visit our website:

www.socialsupportsystems.com

For emergency mobilisation of our Critical Incident Support team please contact us here

Client Feedback – P.B (Children’s Support worker) Nottingham

Having suffered anxiety and depression on and off over the last few years, I had lost faith in that I’d ever feel good about life. A traumatic incident overwhelmed me and I felt unable to function properly.

After hearing about Social Support Systems, it took me almost a  year to finally ask for some help. I knew something needed to change and although it was hard admitting I was struggling, I took the risk. And am I glad I did.

The difference I feel is fantastic.

I feel like a big weight has lifted off my shoulders and the crippling anxiety is reducing.

I can even laugh as I work through my worries, something I never thought I’d do. My family has noticed the positive change in my attitude and that I am far less worked up and snappy.

My facilitator was patient, kind, understanding, and puts no pressure on me. Talking to her is changing my life and my family’s life. I can’t thank her enough.

 

Client Feedback – C.A. Nottinghamshire #PTSD #Trauma

Am tired, grateful & just resting.

Everything seems a bit better. I have a quiet feeling of pride in my younger traumatised self for facing those big things.

I’m so glad we did all that work over 2 sessions. Feel like we did important childhood traumas. Was amazed we just ‘happened’ to do the ones I would have chosen from the list today.

I absolutely am so shocked that even now when I think of dad coming into my bedroom that time I literally just smile!!!!???

 

Client Feedback -Leanne (Security specialist) Nottinghamshire #PTSD

‘I had been struggling with a traumatic event that affected my life on a daily basis. One session with my facilitator has made an unbelievable difference; I no longer have flashbacks, I can talk openly about what happened, I feel calmer and have less anxiety.

I was nervous before the session but the process was explained to me fully before we began and i was made to feel completely at ease. We went at my pace and i felt in control the whole time. I can’t recommend Social Support Systems enough.’

We are different, here’s why… #trauma #depression #anxiety #stress

Social Support Systems provides help for people across a broad range of psychological difficulties including depression, anxiety, stress, and trauma (PTSD).

We are proud to have effectively supported people from many different walks of life, and at the heart of our service are a number of core values which guide our work and enable our clients to receive the best care possible, regardless of their characteristics, background or social status.

For many, normative counselling, therapy or psychiatry doesn’t work.

Crucially, lots of our clients have already been through the NHS pathways , and have engaged in programmes of therapy only to find themselves still in crisis.

We believe that our clients are all unique, as are their experiences.

We also know that you are the expert in your own experience, not us. Therefore, we work to help you explore your mental environment and issues yourself, and it is this entirely ‘person-centred’ approach that enables our clients to truly resolve their distress.

Our person-centred commitments to you are:

  • Not to evaluate, judge, criticise, disparage or invalidate you, or your values, feelings, reactions, assumptions, conclusions or thoughts
  • To take responsibility for your recovery without dominating you
  • Not to interpret for you, nor advise you
  • Not to label, nor attempt to diagnose you with any illness or condition
  • To be interested in you and your needs at all times
  • To always try understand you, and always support you
  • To Maintain a firm and primary intention to help you
We can help you embrace life once more

Other reasons why our service is different:

We do not believe in limiting session times, as this can prevent resolution and encourage dependency on regular interventions as a ‘coping’ strategy.

If you book an appointment at our support centre, it will only end when you are in a better place and happy to end the session yourself.

We will not give you ‘homework’ and we especially do not teach coping mechanisms – if you’re issues are resolved, there should be nothing to ‘cope’ with – surely?

Located in Ransom Wood, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, our support centre is a peaceful and discreet option for those who feel that privacy is of importance to them.

Please contact us to arrange a consultation here

Alternatively, please call us on (+44) 01623 700320

Dealing with #grief and #loss after a death

Everybody experiences grief, or loss, in their own way. It is an entirely subjective experience, and dependent on many factors.

It represents a broad range of reactions and seems to be an essential part of the continuity of our lives.

There are a number of theories which attempt to describe the process of coming to terms with someone’s death, such as the familiar ‘Kubler-Ross’ model which describes a response involving Progressive stages in coming to terms with someone dying:

  • Denial
  • Anger
  • Bargaining
  • Depression
  • Acceptance

Whilst some recover relatively quickly, others take a while – and for some, it seems that the emotional pain and distress caused by the death of a loved one or close family member will never go away.

Regardless of theoretical models, what is for sure, is that grief is an unpleasant experience and may affect you over a lengthy period of time. Though of course, it must be remembered that death is a natural part of our lives, and thus the general outcome of the grieving process is to continue to live with fulfilment once we have adjusted to life without the presence of the person we have lost.

For some though, emotional attachment, the nature of the death or dying process can augment the sense of loss, or loss of control, creating a sense of shock, helplessness, emotional numbness, anger, frustration, and a whole host of other feelings and emotions which negatively impact on one’s life and well-being – according to the UK National Health Service, there are a number of key factors that indicate you should seek help:

  • You don’t feel able to cope with overwhelming emotions or daily life
  • The intense emotions aren’t subsiding
  • You’re not sleeping normally
  • You have symptoms of depression or anxiety
  • Your relationships are suffering
  • You’re having sexual problems
  • You’re becoming accident-prone.

Whilst such lists can be helpful to doctors in assessment processes, they are not exhaustive of the whole human experience and will not adequately explain the differences between the grief experiences of different people.

It’s safe to say, from a person-centred point of view, that you will know when you are becoming overwhelmed, because you are the expert in your own experience.

If you do feel that you are struggling to cope, and your psychological well-being is being adversely affected to the point you are in distress or crisis, and if you feel you need help, you can contact us to tell us about it and get support.

You can have confidence that our TIR facilitators can effectively support you – we aren’t like normal counsellors, therapists or psychiatrists. You can learn more about how our unique person-centred approach to mental health is different by clicking here

Please Contact us to arrange a  consultation and discuss your needs.

 

SSS Joins ‘National Suicide Prevention Alliance’ to help prevent suicides amongst military and emergency service personnel

I’m very excited, because this week, Social Support Systems became  a member of the National Suicide Prevention Alliance (NSPA).

 

It seems that almost every week, there is news in the media of another soldier, paramedic, police officer or fire-fighter who has taken their own life – it is incredibly sad, and I believe that Social Support Systems (SSS) can have a great impact upon reducing the amount of suicides in the UK.

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Client Feedback from Steve (Police Officer) Nottingham. #PTSD

‘I have attended all manner of incidents, but I recently dealt with an incident that caused me issues.I had constant reminders of it and it started to interfere with my private and work life.I had a vision in my head 24hrs a day that i just couldn’t get rid of. I considered the GP, asking for help, and thought about going off sick. I broke down at work and sought help internally and was directed to Social Support Systems.After a quick online questionnaire i was asked to phone and make an appointment.The day arrived and i didn’t know what to expect, but after three hours with my facilitator I no longer feel or suffer the issues I did, and life is back on track.An unexpectedly simple process provided relief for me – Much quicker than a GP visit and then onward referral. I really can’t praise or thank them enough.’

PB – Nottingham #PTSD

‘It’s very bizarre…Yesterday I thought ‘no way would talking work’, but the difference I feel that sharing what happened with you is unreal.How can one session be so beneficial?.I feel like a pressure has lifted from me – a strange feeling of acceptance of what happened, but to move forward. For the first time ever I can feel a spark of hope!

Away to Belfast! UKPTS 9th Annual Conference 2017

This coming Tuesday 21st of March 2017 sees Dr John Durkin of Social Support Systems CIC speaking at the 9th annual conference of the United Kingdom Psychological Trauma Society (UKPTS), being held in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The UKPTS organisational aims are:

  • To provide a forum for multi-disciplinary professionals working in the field of psychotrauma to share ideas and knowledge relevant to their work in the field
  • To provide considered, and evidence based, comment on psychological trauma on behalf of the membership in order to aid those who might be affected by traumatic events

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