Reactions to traumatic events will differ from person to person. Many people will have significant physical or emotional reactions following a traumatic event. This is normal and part of our mind and body’s way of recovering from the event. For some people, these types of reactions will reduce in intensity and frequency after a short time but for some, they will last longer. Some common trauma reactions might include:
- Shock and denial
- Feeling jumpy, easily startled, irritable and/or wound up
- A sense of reliving the traumatic event/s with intrusive thoughts, flashbacks or nightmares
- Avoiding reminders of the event/s
- Physical reactions – fatigue, nausea, headaches, increased heart rate, body aches and pain
- Social isolation and withdrawal
- Strained relationships
- Experiencing negative thoughts and low mood
- Difficulty managing emotions
- Sleep disturbances
- Self-harm or self-destructive behaviours.