Trauma - Managing Mental Health Reactions to Major Disasters and Traumas

Information for Partners, Families and Friends

Introduction

Every year thousands of people become victims of traumatic events. In recent years, events such as the Asian Tsunami, Newcastle Earthquake, the Thredbo Landslide, and within the military the Blackhawk and Westralia disasters, have become household names. These tragedies affected the lives of not only those involved but also the personnel who may have assisted at the scene or disaster.

People may also experience traumatic events such as rape, assault, murder, kidnapping, torture and road traffic accidents. While these events often don't attract the media coverage common to the larger disasters, the effects on survivors and witnesses to these events may be just as devastating.

Additionally, due to the type of work conducted by Defence (including assistance after major disasters), there is a likelihood of exposure to potentially traumatic events. While the ADF has a comprehensive system of mental health support to operations, friends and family can assist in the readjustment process.

How are people affected by trauma?

Traumatic events frequently occur with a sudden violence that is completely unexpected. For many they are accompanied by physical injuries, or the loss of loved ones, friends or relatives and/or the loss of property, but above all they may be followed by an intense emotional response. This commonly consists of a combination of the following symptoms:

• Shock or denial. Often people will appear emotionally numb and have difficulty accepting that a highly traumatic event has just occurred.

• High anxiety or fear. People may have difficulty "winding down" after a traumatic event, or they may continue to fear for their own safety for lengthy periods.

• Guilt or shame. People may experience "survivor guilt", or feel ashamed that they were unable to help other accident victims.

• Anger and irritability. Often the result of frustration, guilt, and tension.

• Sadness and depression. Survivors of trauma may mourn for lost lives, or simply be affected by the horror of common to many traumatic events.

These emotions are commonly associated with thinking and behavioural disturbances. Symptoms may include the following:

• Difficulty concentrating and general confusion.

• Intense recurring images of the trauma in the form of nightmares or intrusive images while awake. These flashbacks are very upsetting due to the pain of remembering and their unpredictability, or the individual’s apparent inability to control them.

• Social withdrawal, or a lack of interaction and communication.

• Loss of sex drive and interest in relationships.

• Increased alcohol consumption.

How do I help?

One of the hardest things of all for some people is the loneliness of feeling that one's closest family and friends do not understand what is happening when it is too difficult to explain to them. The sense of isolation from those most needed when dealing with one of the most important events of one's life can even feel like a second trauma.

The person may need to go on talking about the experience much longer than others think necessary. This continued review of the events helps people to sort things out in their own minds, which subsequently helps symptoms to decrease as time goes on.

For some, the thoughts and feelings they experience following a traumatic even are truly terrifying, leading them to believe that they are losing their minds or developing some sort of mental illness. It may also appear this way to others. Your continued help and support is vitally important. It is suggested that you:

• Keep communicating, both in words and actions.

• Be patient. It may take a while for the consequences of a trauma to unfold, to be dealt with, and a comfortable relationship and lifestyle re-established.

• Encourage the person to discuss their feelings. Often, people are worried about traumatising others if the talk about the event. However, they can talk about their feelings without revealing potentially distressing details.

• Share in reviewing the past and future, in making new plans and changing life values and priorities.

• Respect privacy and the need to be alone with one's thoughts and feelings, but do not let your loved one become isolated.

• Discourage excess consumption of alcohol and drugs (including stimulants such as caffeine).

• Encourage return to work and typical daily routines so as to reintroduce some normality. However, ensure that you make time for leisure and relaxation together.

• Encourage your partner to get plenty of rest, sleep and time to reflect.

• Ensure that you both eat properly and get at least a moderate amount of exercise.

• Help with practical tasks and responsibilities where necessary.

• Remember that other members of the family (parents, children and spouses) often need support as much as the affected person.

When do I seek professional help?

Typically, the symptoms of trauma recede within days or weeks. However, if the symptoms described above persist for a considerable length of time and/or cause significant distress, please encourage the individual to seek professional help. Psychologists and other suitably trained mental health practitioners are available to help survivors and their families cope with the effects of trauma.

The most important thing to remember is that you're not alone!

23 September, 2008