Trauma – reaction and recovery

Everyone will react differently to different traumatic events. Photo by jar0d

Traumatic events can be either physical or mental, ranging from farm accidents and car accidents through to bushfires, floods and relationship problems. Traumatic events can cause immediate and long term reactions. Everyone will react differently to different traumatic events, and no reaction is right or wrong.

You might feel physical reactions like nausea, headaches or lack of appetite or psychological reactions like confusion and forgetfulness. Other common reactions to trauma include guilt, depression and anger.

Sometimes reactions to trauma develop over a longer period of time and may develop into post traumatic stress disorder (PSTD). This is when a person may continue to relive the traumatic event, be unable to relax and ‘switch off’ and feel constantly anxious.

Beware of stress overload, when your body is pushed beyond its limits. Take time out.

Trauma - reacting and recovering

Reactions to trauma may last for days, weeks or even longer. It is normal to have strong emotional or physical reactions following a distressing or frightening event. In fact, these feelings are part of the healing process. There are strategies to help people cope with and recover from these experiences.

Find out more about this topic on Better Health Channel

References used for this topic page

More information:

Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health

About trauma

Australian Psychological Society

Understanding and managing psychological trauma

Better Health Channel

Trauma - how our body reacts

Children, Youth and Women’s Health Service

Surviving trauma

Clinical care:

Medical Journal of Australia

Treating adults with acute distress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder in general practice [PDF 127kb]

National Health and Medical Research Council

Australian guidelines for the treatment of adults with acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder [PDF 1.9mb]

Research & reviews:

American Journal of Psychiatry

Treatment of acute posttraumatic stress disorder with brief cognitive behavioural therapy [PDF 162kb]

Cochrane Collaboration

Psychological treatment of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [PDF 886kb]

Journal of Traumatic Stress

Associations between psychological trauma and physical illness in primary care [PDF 121kb]

Fast facts:

Trauma – reaction and recovery

Trauma can cause strong physical and emotional reactions. This is a normal reaction to events which cause shock and extreme stress.
Everyone will react differently but for everyone, support is important, both immediately after the event and further down the track.
Don’t hesitate to seek professional help if you feel you need it immediately or if you don’t begin to return to normal after three or four weeks.
Avoid stress overload, you need to rest and eat well after a traumatic experience.
Sometimes traumatic experiences can affect us for a long time.

Find out more about trauma – reaction and recovery