Make time for regular exercise – it helps cleanse your body and mind of tension.When you feel exhausted, make sure you set aside time to rest.Don’t let the trauma confine your life, but take your time to get back to normal. Don’t go out of your way to avoid certain places or activities.Try to keep to your normal routine and stay busy.Don’t bottle up your feelings – talk to someone who can support and understand you.Gradually confront what has happened – don’t try to block it out.Avoid making major decisions or big life changes until you feel better.

Don’t overuse alcohol or drugs to help you cope.

Remind yourself daily that you are managing – try not to get angry or frustrated with yourself if you are not able to do things as well or efficiently as normal.

Accept that you will not feel your normal self for a period of time, but that it will also eventually pass.

Recognise that you have been through a distressing or frightening experience and that you will have a reaction to it.

There are a number of strategies that can help a person resolve traumatic reactions. Helping resolve traumatic reactions to trauma This can include thinking about how and why it happened, how and why you were involved, why you feel the way you do, whether feelings you are having indicate what kind of person you are, whether the experience has changed your view on life, and how. Once the distressing event is over, you may find yourself trying to make sense of the event.

turning to substances such as alcohol, cigarettes and coffee.

changed appetite, such as eating a lot more or a lot less.

losing touch with normal daily routines.

getting immersed in recovery-related tasks.

inability to stop focusing on what occurred.

Traumatic experiences can result in physical reactions including:Ĭommon behavioural reactions to trauma include: Emotional reactions to the event are felt during the let-down phase, and include depression, avoidance, guilt, oversensitivity, and withdrawal.

let-down – after the crisis is over, exhaustion may become obvious.

continuing alarm – feeling like the danger is still there or the event is continuing.

not wanting to connect with others or becoming withdrawn from those around you.

shock – difficulty believing in what has happened, feeling detached and confused.

repeatedly playing parts of the event over in the mindĮmotional reactions to trauma can include:.

These reactions are normal, and in most cases, they subside as a part of the body’s natural healing and recovery process over the next few weeks.

not wanting to leave a particular place for fear of ‘what might happen’.

being very protective of others including family and friends.

feeling emotionally numb, as if in a state of ‘shock’.

feeling as if you are in a state of ‘high alert’ and ‘on watch’ for anything else that might happen.

The way a person reacts to trauma depends on the type and severity of the traumatic event, whether the person has any previous relevant experience or training, if they are active or helpless, the amount of available support following the incident, other current stressors in the person’s life, their personality, natural levels of resilience, and any previous traumatic experiences.

being exposed to images, news reports or social media posts of these types of events.being in an airplane that is forced to make an emergency landing.being involved in, or witnessing, a serious car or transport accident.being a victim of, or witness to, a crime, act of violence or armed robbery.natural disasters, such as a bushfire or flood.As a result, a person experiences high levels of emotional, psychological, and physical distress that temporarily disrupts their ability to function normally in day-to-day life.Įxamples of potentially traumatic experiences include: There are many things you can do to help cope with and recover from such an experience.Ī traumatic experience is any event in life that causes a threat to our safety and potentially places our own life or the lives of others at risk. On most occasions though, these reactions subside as a part of the body’s natural healing and recovery process. It is normal to have strong emotional or physical reactions following a distressing event. VicEmergency Hotline External Link Tel.Road Trauma Support Services Victoria External Link Tel.Victims of Crime Helpline External Link Tel.

Trauma responses