
A GP is always a good place to start when trying to overcome any mental health concerns, as they can refer you to specialists, and, if necessary, support your efforts with medications. If you are a Veteran, ask for a Veteran Health Check.
Posttraumatic stress refers to a group of reactions that can occur after someone has experienced a traumatic event. It's common in the Australian community, not just veterans. Effective therapies are available to minimise its impact on you and your family.
There are four main symptoms of posttraumatic stress (also known as PTSD):
Traumatic experiences are common. About two-thirds of Australians will experience at least one potentially traumatic event in their lives.
In addition to traumas commonly faced by the general community such as car accidents and assaults, veterans are more likely to be exposed to traumatic events during the course of their service.
Around 5 to 10 per cent of the general community is likely to develop posttraumatic stress, compared with 5 to 20 per cent of veterans (depending on the nature of their work and deployment history).
Among current serving members, about 8 per cent will suffer from posttraumatic stress in a given year, compared with 5 per cent of the general community
I was jumpy, sometimes aggressive, withdrawn and with a kind of numbness. A lot of numbness. I found it really hard to connect even with the person I loved the most. There were nightmares and dreams. I was constantly stressed, constantly wired, constantly depressed - just always battling with life.
After serving in Aceh, nothing else could get me excited anymore. Nothing else is interesting anymore; nothing else feels as intense and therefore it’s not as meaningful.
Read Bell’s story - reconnecting after trauma
Living with or loving someone who has posttraumatic stress can be difficult.
People with posttraumatic stress often avoid social situations, feel detached and may have trouble expressing their emotions. They might be less affectionate or withdrawn, show less interest in intimacy or parenting children.
People with posttraumatic stress can also be more irritable and jumpy. Family members often talk about ‘walking on eggshells’ and being afraid of an outburst.
Family violence can also be a problem for families of veterans with posttraumatic stress.
Research has shown that posttraumatic stress can also affect the mental health of members of a veteran’s family.
Partners can experience anxiety, depression, social isolation and feelings of hopelessness. Younger children can develop behaviour problems such as acting out at school.
Children who have parents with PTSD are more likely to suffer from mental health problems in later life. It is important to seek support and treatment for posttraumatic stress as early as possible to minimise its impact on you and your family.
Find out more about resources and referral options for families.
Some veterans develop posttraumatic stress years after their traumatic experience, while others might find their existing posttraumatic stress gets worse as they age.
This is perfectly normal.
For one thing, work and raising children can help distract from thoughts and feelings associated with the trauma. With more free time after retirement and an 'empty nest', it can be harder to avoid memories and easier to get into bad habits, like drinking too much.
You might also find that strategies that used to help you cope with stress and push memories away aren’t working any more or are taking their toll. For example, you might find that alcohol no longer blocks out feelings and actually makes matters worse by disrupting your sleep.
The interaction between physical and mental health can also lead to posttraumatic stress getting worse with age.
Over time, posttraumatic stress can have a negative effect on your physical health. Having to deal with more physical health issues as you age can make it harder to cope. Dementia may also result in unwanted memories of traumatic events becoming more frequent.
It is important to remember that posttraumatic stress can be treated, even if you’ve had it for a very long time. Start with your GP or call Open Arms on 1800 011 046
Effective psychological therapy and medication treatments for posttraumatic stress are available.
It is generally best to start with psychological therapy rather than medication, although your doctor may prescribe an antidepressant and other medications to help you manage some feelings associated with posttraumatic stress.
The most effective treatment for posttraumatic stress is trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). This approach recognises that the way we think and act affects the way we feel. With the help of a therapist or counsellor, you will learn:
Recovery after Trauma - A Guide for People with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PDF) provides more information about posttraumatic stress and its treatment.
A GP is always a good place to start when trying to overcome any mental health concerns, as they can refer you to specialists, and, if necessary, support your efforts with medications. If you are a Veteran, ask for a Veteran Health Check.
A program to help understand and manage the impact of trauma on you and your family.
DVA provides Trauma Recovery Programs for veterans with posttraumatic stress and related problems. These hospital-based programs treat former serving members and veterans. To find out more about these programs, contact the hospitals directly and speak to the program coordinators.
The PTSD Coach Australia app provides education, information and strategies to assist self-management of posttraumatic stress symptoms. PTSD Coach is available to download free wherever you get your apps.
Phoenix Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that promotes recovery for the 15 million Australians affected by trauma.
Counselling is available to veterans and their family through Open Arms - Veterans & Families Counselling. Open Arms provides free and confidential counselling support. To learn how Open Arms can help with posttraumatic stress disorder, call 1800 011 046.
Use the tools available in the PTSD Coach Australia app to manage your symptoms:
The PTSD Coach Australia app is best used when you are also receiving treatment for posttraumatic stress.
Take the time to look through the tools when you are feeling calm and practice the ones that are most relevant for you. With practice, you will be able to use the app to manage your symptoms as they arise.
Manage your posttraumatic stress symptoms by Improving Your Sleep.
Our Self-help tools and the High Res app offer a range of self-help resources that help serving and ex-serving ADF members and their families manage stress and build resilience. Check out some of the tools that you can use:
Use the Healthy Sleeping tool and answer questions about your typical sleeping behaviours for tailored advice and tips to improve your sleep, as well as optimising your mental and physical functioning.
Physical activity can help you to reduce stress and anxiety associated with posttraumatic stress and boost your mood.
Use the Physical Activities tool to find activities, set goals and plan how to deal with anything that could prevent you from reaching those goals.
Posttraumatic stress can leave you feeling on edge and wound up all the time. This can lead to muscle tension, aches, pains and fatigue.
Use the Progressive Muscle Relaxation tool to learn how to tense and relax each of the muscle groups in your body so you can calm down and think clearly when you’re feeling on edge or anxious.
The Controlled Breathing tool teaches you how to slow your breathing rate.
These tools will help you to feel calmer and release tension from your body.
These tools are also available on the High Res app to use on the go.
Most of my life I thought people with mental problems were wimps or fakers who needed a good kick up the bum. I’m a soldier, that’s what I’m good at. Over the years I got promoted to warrant officer, had a lot of younger blokes looking up to me, expecting me to be a strong leader. And I was. I was bloody good. Until about a year ago ...