All-hours Support Line
Emergency Hotline
for Australian Defence Force
members and their families CALL 1800 628 036 -
Outside Australia +61
2 9425 3878
Trauma
- Managing Mental Health Reactions to Major Disasters and Traumas
When to Seek Assistance
When should I seek professional help?
In the vast majority of cases, trauma
symptoms such as those described above recede reasonably
quickly following the event (i.e. days or weeks).
However, some people find that serious problems continue
to interfere with daily living. Common examples include
continuing to feel overwhelming anxiety or sadness,
which in turn may impact upon job performance and
interpersonal relationships.
Check which of the following are true for
you:
Feeling as if you back in the situation
Feeling as if the event is happening all over again
Avoiding situations, conversations, news articles related
to the event
Finding that you are worrying more, even about little
issues
Feeling more irritable
Feeling there is a danger or threat
Severe sleep loss or daytime fatigue
Getting angry easily
Feeling frustrated with routines at work
Not feeling like doing anything
Feeling more sad than usual
Drinking more than usual
Considering suicide or harming yourself in some way
Feeling isolated from family and friends
Feeling that upsetting symptoms are not getting better
on their own
If you checked any of these items, in addition to
the last item, you should seek advice from an ADF
Mental Health Professional. They are trained to work
with individuals affected by trauma to them find constructive
ways of dealing with the emotional impact.
In the vast majority of cases, trauma
symptoms such as those described above recede reasonably
quickly following the event (i.e. days or weeks).
However, some people find that serious problems continue
to interfere with daily living. Common examples include
continuing to feel overwhelming anxiety or sadness,
which in turn may impact upon job performance and
interpersonal relationships. 