104/46 Graingers Rd, West Footscray
Trauma
Understanding Trauma
Trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, assault, or natural disaster. Immediately after the event, shock and denial are typical emotions to experience. Longer term reactions include unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships, and even physical symptoms like headaches or nausea.
While these feelings are normal, some people have difficulty moving on with their lives.
Understanding common reactions
How you react to trauma will depend on many things, such as the event itself, your access to supports, other stresses you may be experiencing and your ability to cope. Common reactions include a range of physical, mental, emotional or behavioural factors
Making sense of the event
After the traumatic event you may try to make sense of it by thinking about:
- How and why did it happen?
- How and why did you get involved?
- Why do you feel this way?
- Has the experience changed your outlook on life and how?
Set small goals
Try to set goals that are achievable for you, even if it’s on a day-by-day or hour-by-hour basis
Talk to someone
Reach out to your friends. If you’re having trouble talking to people you know, phone a telephone counselling helpline (e.g. Kids Help Line, Lifeline or SuicideLine)
Avoid being alone
Have someone stay with you until your thoughts of suicide decrease
Stay healthy
Exercise and eating well can help you to feel better and manage difficult things in your life. Start by doing something small a couple of times a week
Common Reactions
Behavioural reactions
- Change in your appetite
- Using substances such as alcohol
- Sleeping problems
- Inability to stop focussing on the event
- Losing sense of time
- Blaming others
- Not being able to keep your normal routine
- Avoiding reminders of the event
Physical reactions
- Fatigue or tiredness
- Nightmares or sleep difficulties
- Restlessness
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Being on ‘high alert’
- Being easily startled
Mental reactions
- Inability to concentrate
- Short attention span
- Poor memory
- Confusion and forgetfulness
- Intrusive thoughts
- Visual images of the event
- Disorientation
Emotional reactions
- Fear
- Depression
- Anxiety and panic
- Anger
- Avoidance or withdrawal
- Tearfulness
- Numbness and detachment
- Oversensitivity
- Guilt
What can you do
- Acknowledge that you’ve experienced a distressing or frightening even
- Accept that you will have a reaction and not feel your normal self
- Avoid using alcohol or drugs as a way to cope
- Talk to someone who can help and support you Maintain your normal routine
- When you’re tired, take a rest Do some regular exercise Try to relax and do some things you enjoy (e.g. yoga, meditation, deep breathing, listening to music)
