Trauma and PTSD

This information is general and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a qualified health professional.

What is trauma?

Trauma is a response to experiencing or witnessing deeply distressing or disturbing events. It can result from experiences such as serious accidents, natural disasters, physical or sexual assault, abuse, war, torture, terrorism, or seeing someone hurt or killed. Trauma can also occur from hearing about a traumatic event that happened to someone close to you.

Everyone responds differently to traumatic events. Many people recover with support from family and friends. For others, the effects of trauma persist and may develop into a mental health condition like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. It's normal to feel fear and anxiety after a traumatic event. But when these feelings don't go away and continue to affect everyday life for more than a month, it may be a sign of PTSD.

Around 12 in every 100 Australians will experience PTSD at some time in their lives. PTSD can affect anyone, but some people are at greater risk, including those who have experienced repeated trauma, people working in trauma-exposed jobs (such as emergency services and military personnel), and those who had limited support after a traumatic event.

PTSD is treatable. With the right support, many people recover or learn to manage their symptoms effectively.

Common experiences and everyday impacts

PTSD symptoms usually fall into four categories:

Re-experiencing the trauma:

• Flashbacks or intrusive memories
• Nightmares
• Distress when reminded of the event
• Physical symptoms like racing heart or difficulty breathing

Avoidance:

• Avoiding places, people or situations that trigger memories
• Not wanting to talk or think about the event

Negative thoughts and mood:

• Feeling numb, angry, guilty or depressed
• Blaming yourself or others for what happened
• Losing interest in activities you used to enjoy
• Becoming emotionally detached from others

Increased alertness:

• Being easily startled
• Difficulty sleeping
• Irritability or aggression
• Poor concentration
• Constantly scanning for danger

PTSD can affect work, study, relationships and physical health. The impact is different for everyone, and recovery is possible at any stage.

Support options and seeking professional help

If symptoms persist for more than a couple of weeks after a traumatic event, it's important to talk to your GP. They can provide a mental health assessment, develop a mental health treatment plan and refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist. Treatment options may include:

• Trauma-focused cognitive behaviour therapy (TF-CBT)
• Prolonged exposure therapy
• Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR)
• Medication, prescribed and monitored by a doctor

Under a mental health treatment plan, Medicare provides rebates for sessions with eligible mental health professionals. You can also contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 (24/7) for free support.

Supporting someone who has experienced trauma

If someone you know has experienced trauma or has PTSD, you can help by:

• Listening without pressure or judgement
• Letting them talk at their own pace, without forcing them to share details
• Being patient, as recovery takes time
• Encouraging them to seek professional help if needed
• Looking after your own mental health and seeking support if you need it

Reliable Australian resources

• Healthdirect — PTSD
• Phoenix Australia — National Centre of Excellence in Posttraumatic Mental Health
• Blue Knot Foundation — Complex Trauma

Sources

• Healthdirect Australia — PTSD (healthdirect.gov.au/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd)
• Phoenix Australia — Australian Guidelines for the Treatment of PTSD (phoenixaustralia.org.au)
• Australian Institute of Health and Welfare — Stress and trauma (aihw.gov.au)
• Blue Knot Foundation — National Centre of Excellence for Complex Trauma (blueknot.org.au)

Need support? Contact your GP, a mental health professional, or call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).