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The 27th June 2019 is global PTSD Awareness Day. Championed by Australian charities such The Australian Resource Centre for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Picking up the Peaces, PTSD awareness day aims to build awareness and reduce stigma around PTSD.
Trauma exposure and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can have devastating effects for the survivors and their loved ones. After being exposed to a traumatic event, people can struggle to feel safe in the world again, feeling overwhelmed, angry, guilty, sad, and terrified. Careers can be destroyed, relationships strained, and people can feel like they’ve lost themselves. Most people associate PTSD or trauma only with war veterans, crimes or violence. However, people can be effected by trauma for many different reasons, and it impacts more individuals than people think.
Therefore, this month our wellbeing message is focused on understanding trauma and how to support yourself or others that are affected by it.
Trauma is the reaction to a traumatic event where an individual perceives they are, or someone else is, at risk of harm or death.
Traumatic events can include:
If you, or someone you know has been exposed to a traumatic event, it is normal to see the following reactions:
After a traumatic event, your brain or body goes into shock as you try to make sense of what happened and process the emotions around it. These trauma symptoms usually develop in the hours or days following a traumatic event. However, sometimes it can take weeks, months or even years before symptoms appear.
It is important to know that these are all normal reactions to abnormal events. Trauma reactions are not weaknesses, they are your brain’s understandable reaction to a horrific event.
Lots of research shows that most people who are exposed to a traumatic event don’t develop PTSD. Trauma reactions will usually fade within 4 weeks of exposure to the traumatic event. In fact, research shows that you are 65% more likely to return to normal functioning, or even have improved functioning after exposure to a traumatic event. This is called post-traumatic growth.
Left untreated, PTSD can lead to other mental health difficulties such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, gastric disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes, and reduced immune system. Due to the severity of the experiences, it can also lead to increased suicide risk.
PTSD does not just heal over time, it is a serious and debilitating mental illness that needs professional support to help work through. The behaviour associated with PTSD is because of the illness, it is not a weakness.
#1. Focus on Self-care: Looking after yourself is crucial after a traumatic event. Remember to eat regularly, socialise, exercise, have a regular sleep routine, and have time to relax.
#2. Limit further exposure: If you have been exposed to a traumatic event that is on the news, limit yourself to watching or reading any media coverage about the event. This can re-traumatise you.
#3. Try Grounding: After a traumatic event, your brain will often be triggered into thinking you are in danger again due to reminders of the traumatic event. Grounding is a fantastic technique that brings your attention back to the present moment through connecting to your physical senses, and reminds your brain that you are safe in the here and now.
A simple grounding exercise is the 3 Things Exercise. Draw your attention to 3 things you can see, 3 things you can hear, 3 things you can touch. Try this exercise whenever you feel overwhelmed by a trauma symptom to help anchor you in the present moment.
#4. Connect to your Social Supports: After experiencing trauma, it is natural to want to withdraw from others. However, it is vital that you connect to your social supports in this time to help you manage these reactions. You don’t have to talk about the event, just make sure you have people you can talk to or simply be with.
#5. Educate Yourself: Educate yourself about common trauma reactions and trauma progression. When experiencing trauma symptoms, it can feel that there is something really wrong with you. By learning about trauma, it can normalise your experience and help you get the right support.
#6. Seek Help: If someone has developed PTSD, it does not naturally go away over time but they need the right professional support to help them return to their normal functioning. Additionally, if someone you know or love is experiencing trauma reactions, it can be really difficult to witness and it can be helpful to gain support. To access psychological or emotional support with our trained clinicians, contact your EAP – Acacia Connection on 1300 364 273.
#7 Establish a Regular Routine: After a traumatic event, it can turn your life upside down. By creating a regular routine, you can help settle yourself and feel stable again after the event. Try: getting up at the same time each day, or doing an exercise class at the same time each week. Routine will help.
Trauma can be overwhelming and debilitating for those exposed to trauma, as well as the people close to them. However, with the right support you can help yourself or someone close to you get their life back.
Watch this video on Understanding Trauma by Phoenix Australia to learn more.
Mental Health for Leaders Workshop
According to an ABS study, 45% of Australians between the ages of 16-85 will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. It is estimated that untreated mental health conditions cost Australian workplaces approximately $10.9 billion per year.
Are your leaders equipped to manage these situations? We can help!
Our Mental Health for Leaders workshop provides managers with all of the information they need to be able to manage mental health concerns within the workplace with confidence.
Participants will learn a range of support options, conversation techniques and key strategies for managing situations involving mental health risk within the workplace.
What a few of our clients say…
“A really practical and highy informative session. Fantastic!”
“Thank you so much. This session has helped me so much”
Duration: 4 hours
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P: 1300 364 273 | Text or Live Chat: 0401 337 711 | W: acaciaconnection.com
