When someone you know has been through a traumatic experience

Thinking you might die, seeing others killed or injured, intense fear, abuse or being forced to do things out of your control are all traumatic experiences.

While traumas occur all the time, they only affect a few people. If someone close to you has been affected, you may be confused or unsure about what to expect or how to help. People who have been traumatised can respond in ways that may seem unusual, make things worse for them or they may be concerned about things that seem unreasonable.

This page includes information about effects of trauma, and advice about how to help those suffering from it.

The effects of trauma

A traumatic experience can temporarily shatter basic assumptions about life or other people such as trust, safety, predictability. The feelings caused may be so intense that unlike normal distress, they do not fade with time, but either continue the same or get worse after a while.

• People affected by trauma may feel fear even when it is quite safe.
• They may be constantly on edge and not respond to normal reassurance or opportunities to relax.
• Their tiredness may continue on for much longer than seems reasonable.
• They may have periods of appearing numb or detached and not wanting contact. This may be followed later by over-excited behaviour and a need to cling to family or familiar things.
• They may feel they failed or did the wrong thing at the time (even if this isn’t true).
• Usually they remember a combination of very intense fragments of the event that don’t go away, combined with important gaps that make them feel uncertain about what really happened.

Recovery from trauma

Most people recover from traumatic experiences, but it usually takes them longer than would be expected for non-traumatic crises. It is common for there to be an initial period of several days with strong emotions of fear or distress, and a constant preoccupation with the events.

Many people then feel a need to get back to normal and put it out of their minds. Although this can often be beneficial in the short term and help recovery from normal crises, it often only postpones problems for people who have been through traumas. Sometimes they can maintain normal routines for some time (although those around them often see that all is not well) and eventually something happens that brings it to the surface again. This can happen months after the event.

The important thing about recovery from trauma is to go back over what happened so the feelings fade and the person can come to terms with the event, realise it’s in the past and how they can be safe again. But this has to happen at a time and rate that’s comfortable for the individual.

Other people are the most valuable support for recovery, but you may not be sure what to do. Uncertainty and the wish to avoid distress can make those close to the affected person keep away from the experience or from them. It’s usually best to ask how you can help and to let them know they can talk if they want to.

Helping someone who has been through trauma

1. Spend time with the stressed person, without judging or demanding. Their recovery will occur in its own time.
2. Offer support and a listening ear. Talking is one of the best things they can do to work things out – but they may need to go over things many more times than you expect. Try to be interested in what they want to say – avoid giving advice or trying to solve the problems. The talking itself is important and helps to make it fade. Remember though, this is likely to happen at their pace, not yours.
3. Help with practical tasks and chores as this enables more of their energy and time to be given to the recovery process.
4. Give them time, space and patience – don’t take it personally if at times they are irritable, bad tempered or want to be alone. These are a natural part of the stress response and will pass as they recover.
5. Don’t try to talk them out of their reactions, minimise the event or say things like ‘you’re lucky it wasn’t worse,’ or ‘pull yourself together,’ or try to get them to look on the bright side. Stressed people need to concentrate on themselves at first – they’ll feel supported if you let them know you are concerned, want to help and are trying to understand. They’ll see your viewpoint as they recover.

When to seek additional help

Sometimes it’s important for people to know when their own recovery activity requires additional help. Personal recovery may need to be supported by specialist knowledge to ensure stress does not linger unnecessarily or lead to later health problems. Stress problems respond rapidly with professional advice and information.

They may need addition help if:

• recovery has stalled or doesn’t seem to be proceeding
• physical or other symptoms are causing concern
• they have no one to talk to or relationships are being affected by the stress
• they have continuing emotional numbness, depression or anxiety
• they have continued disturbed sleep and nightmares
• they’re unable to handle the intense feelings or physical sensations
• they’re becoming accident-prone or increasing use of drugs and alcohol.

Looking after yourself

Don’t forget that to have a loved one, friend or colleague go through a trauma can be very stressful for you as well. You may find that you have:

• strong reactions of anger that it happened, sadness for them, fear for yourself
• changes in how you see life and the world
• nightmares or general moodiness.

Often the best thing may be to seek support from others for yourself so you can be more available to your loved one for the time it takes them to get over it.

Information and counselling

Counselling with someone trained in trauma is often helpful not only to talk about the trauma, but to give a better understanding about what’s happening and how to get over it.

Sometimes the person who has had the trauma may not be willing to seek help for a time. In this case it may be beneficial for those close to them to seek professional advice and this often helps them take the step themselves.

Adapted from information issued by Queensland Health: Fact Sheets for Psychosocial Disaster Management.