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Trauma & mental health
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Impact of trauma

Almost anyone who goes through a traumatic event will be emotionally affected in some way.

First reactions

In the first days and weeks following a traumatic event, many people experience strong feelings such as fear, sadness, guilt and anger. Most people recover on their own and get back to their normal lives with the support of family and friends, and without professional assistance.

Talk to your doctor at any time if you feel very distressed or your reactions are interfering with your work and relationships.

However, people who do not recover on their own may need professional help. Their problems may include: depression; anxiety; posttraumatic stress disorder; risky alcohol and drug use, together with difficulties with relationships, work and daily life.

Depression

“..with my legs like this, I won’t be able to do all the stuff I did with my mates…I used to be pretty good at footy, but now, I don’t know…I feel like I don’t have a life anymore, like there is no light at the end of the tunnel ...I just can’t get motivated”

Sadness and grief are normal after a traumatic experience. People can also develop negative thoughts about themselves, the world and other people after a traumatic event. These thoughts and feelings usually lift as people start to adjust to the traumatic event . However, for some, these thoughts and feeling persist and they find it hard to participate in everyday activities. These people may have developed depression and would benefit from talking to a health practitioner.

Depression is a common mental health problem with one in five Australians experiencing at least one in their live. And it is common after trauma. Some of the signs are:

Depression, can get in the way of coping with everyday life: getting out of bed, going to work, seeing friends – these everyday activities may become very difficult. Depression can also make it difficult for people to work through their traumatic experience.

If you have been experiencing a number of these problems for more than two weeks, then you should talk to your local doctor or a mental health professional. Click here for more information.

Anxiety

Many people experience fear and anxiety during and after a traumatic event. They may feel terrified, stressed or on edge. Some may also feel disoriented or as if things are unreal. If these feelings persist or the level of anxiety becomes so severe that it significantly interferes with someone's ability to cope with daily life, they may have an anxiety disorder.

One in 10 Australians experience an anxiety disorder at any one time. Common anxiety disorders that follow trauma are posttraumatic stress disorder, generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder.

People with anxiety may experience:

If you have been experiencing a number of these problems for more than a few days you should talk to your local doctor or a mental health professional. Click here for more information.

Risky alcohol and drug use

People commonly use alcohol or drugs to blunt the emotional pain that they are experiencing from their distress. Alcohol and drugs may help block out painful memories in the short term, but they get in the way of recovery.

For more information about where to get help with high-risk drinking or drug use, please see our list of organisations and websites.

Difficulties with relationships, work and daily life

Mental health problems resulting from a traumatic event can have a significant impact on family, social and work life. A person’s distress can make it difficult for them to relate to others. This may take different forms including withdrawal from family and social activities, over protectiveness or difficulty expressing emotions. People can also feel irritable and lash out at family and friends. While anger is a comon response to a traumatic situation, if it persists, it may have serious and negative consequences.

Returning to work can be difficult following a traumatic event but returning to your normal routine helps recovery. Health practitioners can provide information on where to get practical support and rehabilitation if needed. This can be important even when the problems seems mild. It is often easier to prevent a problem getting worse than trying to manage it when it is having a significant impact on your life.

People experiencing mental health problems as a result of a traumatic event may feel irritable and lash out at family and friends, even when they are trying to help. While anger is a common response to a traumatic situation, if it persists, it may have serious, negative consequences for relationships and family.

Information on how families and friends can help someone after a traumatic event is available here.