Trauma

It’s normal to experience strong emotions and feelings after a traumatic event

A traumatic event is something which threatens your life or safety, or the lives of people around you. It might be a natural disaster such as a bushfire, flood or earthquake, or a serious accident, or a physical or sexual assault.

Traumatic events are often unexpected and don't allow you time to prepare for them. The event might be very different to anything you've experienced before, and hard to make sense of.

It might make you question things that you used to take for granted, like your safety and your control over your life. It can be very upsetting and worrying to have these beliefs shattered. It can be especially difficult to deal with these feelings if you're also dealing with other changes in your life, like getting a job, managing relationships, or moving out of home.

There is no 'right' way to respond to, and cope with, a traumatic event, as everyone is different.  Most people will cope well and make a good recovery, but a few will have long-term problems.

Effects of trauma

It's normal to experience strong emotions and feelings after a traumatic event. These can include:

  • Emotional numbness - feeling cut off from what happened
  • Shock and disbelief
  • Fear - of death or injury, being alone, not being able to cope, or the event happening again
  • Helplessness - having no control
  • Guilt or shame - for not having stopped the event, or for being better off than others, or for not reacting better or coping well enough
  • Sadness - for things that have gone or been lost
  • Isolation - feeling that no-one understands or can help
  • Elation - joy at being alive and safe
  • Anger and frustration - about the event, or the unfairness of it
  • Re-experiencing of the event - through dreams, flashbacks or thoughts
  • Changes in relationships - some people might seem unsupportive or unavailable, while others might seem closer than before.

Other common changes include:

  • Headaches
  • Changes in appetite and weight
  • A racing heart
  • Shaking or sweating
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Emotional changes, like mood swings or anxiety
  • Difficulty with school or work
  • Withdrawal from friends and family
  • Problems keeping up normal daily activities
  • Risk-taking, including increased substance use.

Reactions like these are normal, but most people find that they start to improve in the days and weeks following the event.

Looking after yourself

Life can be chaotic and confusing after a trauma. There are things you can do to look after yourself and help you cope. For example:

  • Be active, which will help you to feel useful and good about yourself

 

  • Talk to people about your experiences and listento the experiences of other people (but only when you feel ready to do so)

 

  • Avoid watching media coverage of the event, as this can be upsetting
  • Get support from people you trust, including your friends, family or teachers, and letpeople know how you are feeling

 

  • Get back into usual routines, like returning to work, school, sports and other activities

 

  • Make time for exercise and rest, and for activities that you enjoy

 

What are post-traumatic mental health problems?

 

Most people begin to recover from a traumatic experience in the following few weeks. Some people, though, have continuing symptoms of distress, or find that their symptoms are getting worse. This can increase the risk of developing mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or harmful levels of substance use.

Getting help early from a health professional like your local doctor (general practitioner, GP)can make sure that these problems are treated early, and don't continue to be a problem in the future.

 

When to get help

 

It's important to get help if you are experiencing symptoms that:

  • Last for more than two weeks
  • Are getting worse
  • Are interfering with activities that you enjoy, school, work, or your relationships
  • Are distressing or upsetting
  • Make you think of harming yourself or someone else.

If symptoms of trauma are left untreated they can worsen over time and have a significant impact on your life. Getting help early can lessen the impact of mental health problems on your life and improve the chances of recovering fully.

Finding help

If you are having problems after a trauma and need some help, it's important to find someone you trust and feel comfortable with. There are many GPs and other health professionals who are experienced in working with young people who have experienced trauma. They will be able to help you in dealing with the stress and helping your recovery.

A good place to start might be your local community health centre or headspace centre, or you might want to talk with a trusted friend, teacher or family member about someone they can recommend. Remember that you won't need to talk about the details of the experienceunless you feel completely comfortable and safe.

 

This information was produced thanks to the generous support of the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund and has been developed in collaboration with the Victorian Department of Health