Life After Bushfires

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety disorder.

Some people develop PTSD after experiencing a traumatic event. People affected may feel anxious and highly vigilant, and have intrusive thoughts and memories of the trauma. With treatment, people with PTSD can make a full recovery.

Going through a traumatic event is shocking and distressing for anyone. It might be an experience like a road traffic accident. It could be a natural disaster like a bushfire or flood. You may have experienced this event directly, or be strongly affected by seeing it happening to someone else. Whatever the traumatic experience, it can seem like you’ll never get over what happened.

After a trauma, we know that some people experience post-traumatic stress. This can include flashbacks, insomnia, anxiety and hyper-vigilance. What’s less known is that, after a trauma, many people experience post-traumatic growth (PTG) – they feel stronger, have better relationships and appreciate life more than before the trauma.

Mindfulness is a mental and physical technique you can use to focus your awareness on the present moment. Being in the moment helps you acknowledge, accept and cope with painful or intrusive thoughts, feelings and sensations.

A healthy lifestyle is important for everyone. When we look after our physical health, we feel better too – fitter, more relaxed and better able to cope with things. This is especially important when you have a mental illness.