Condition guide
PTSD and Trauma
Most people experience difficult or frightening events at some point in life, and it’s normal to feel shaken afterward. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops when the impact of a traumatic event persists well beyond the event itself — continuing to affect how a person thinks, feels, and functions, sometimes for months or years without support.
Trauma responses aren’t a sign of weakness. They’re a natural nervous system response to overwhelming experience — the difficulty is that, for some people, that response doesn’t settle on its own the way it does for others. This page covers what PTSD and trauma responses look like, what tends to cause them, and how treatment works, at a general level and without describing specific traumatic events.
Recognising it
What are the symptoms of PTSD?
Intrusive symptoms
- Unwanted, distressing memories of the traumatic event
- Nightmares related to the event
- Flashbacks — feeling as though the event is happening again
- Intense distress or physical reactions when reminded of the event
Avoidance
- Avoiding thoughts, feelings, or conversations connected to the event
- Avoiding people, places, or situations that serve as reminders
Negative changes in mood & thinking
- Persistent negative beliefs about yourself, others, or the world
- Ongoing feelings of fear, guilt, shame, or anger
- Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy
- Feeling detached or estranged from other people
- Difficulty remembering key parts of the event
Changes in arousal & reactivity
- Being easily startled, or constantly “on guard” (hypervigilance)
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
- Irritability or angry outbursts
- Reckless or self-destructive behaviour
A diagnosis typically requires symptoms across each of these categories to persist for more than a month and interfere with daily life. Complex trauma, sometimes linked to prolonged or repeated trauma (such as ongoing childhood adversity or sustained abusive relationships), can additionally involve difficulties with emotional regulation, sense of self, and relationships that go beyond the core PTSD symptoms above. This is increasingly recognised as its own presentation requiring a tailored approach.
Understanding why
What causes PTSD?
There's rarely a single cause — it tends to develop from a combination of factors.
- Exposure to trauma
- PTSD can develop after an event involving actual or threatened death, serious injury, or a serious threat to physical safety — experienced directly or witnessed. This can include accidents, natural disasters, assault, combat, family violence, or other forms of abuse. Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD.
- Severity & duration
- More severe, prolonged, or repeated trauma generally carries higher risk.
- Prior history
- Earlier trauma, especially in childhood, can increase vulnerability to PTSD after later events.
- Support afterward
- Strong social support after a traumatic event is associated with lower risk of developing PTSD.
- Biological factors
- Individual differences in stress response and genetics appear to influence risk.
- Co-occurring stressors
- Additional life stress around the time of the trauma can compound its impact. Developing PTSD isn’t a reflection of resilience or character — it reflects how a particular event interacted with a person’s history, biology, and circumstances.
Getting better
How is PTSD treated?
Trauma-focused CBT (TF-CBT)
Addressing the thoughts and beliefs that maintain distress after trauma, often incorporating gradual, supported processing of the traumatic memory.
Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR)
A structured therapy using guided eye movements or other bilateral stimulation to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories, with strong evidence for PTSD specifically.
Prolonged exposure therapy
Gradual, supported exposure to trauma-related memories and situations to reduce their power over time.
Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)
A structured approach focused on identifying and shifting unhelpful beliefs that developed from the trauma.
Working at a safe pace
Because trauma-focused treatment involves working directly with difficult material, it matters that the psychologist you see has genuine experience and training in trauma-specific approaches, delivered at a pace that feels safe for you.
Next step
When should I see a psychologist about PTSD or trauma?
You don't need to wait until symptoms feel unmanageable.
- Distressing memories, flashbacks, or nightmares connected to a difficult event that persist beyond the immediate aftermath
- Ongoing avoidance of reminders that’s limiting your life
- Persistent low mood, numbness, or negative beliefs since the event
- Feeling constantly on edge, easily startled, or unable to relax
- Symptoms that have lasted more than a month and are affecting work, relationships, or daily functioning
Some kinds of trauma have dedicated national services, in addition to the crisis contacts at the top of this page:
- 1800RESPECT 1800 737 732 — 24/7 confidential support for family violence and sexual assault.
- Open Arms 1800 011 046 — Free, specialised trauma support for veterans and current serving ADF members.
A GP can help you access a Mental Health Care Plan under Medicare's Better Access initiative, which provides rebates for a set number of psychology sessions per year.
How Pair helps
Matched with someone who's the right fit — not just available
Pair matches you with an AHPRA-registered psychologist based on your specific situation. Our matching process considers clinical fit, practical factors like session format and cost, and — optionally — identity-based preferences.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between trauma and PTSD?
Trauma refers to the experience of a distressing or frightening event and the natural reactions that can follow. PTSD is a diagnosable condition that develops when trauma-related symptoms persist beyond a month, across specific symptom categories, and significantly interfere with daily life. Many people experience trauma without developing PTSD.
Can PTSD develop months or years after the event?
Yes. While symptoms often begin within the first few months, delayed-onset PTSD — where symptoms emerge six months or more after the event — is a recognised presentation.
Do I need to talk about the traumatic event in detail to get better?
Not necessarily, and not immediately. Trauma-focused therapies vary in how directly they involve processing the memory itself, and a good trauma-informed psychologist will work with you at a pace that feels manageable rather than pushing you into detail before you’re ready.
Is EMDR effective for PTSD?
EMDR has strong research support as an effective treatment for PTSD and is recommended in trauma treatment guidelines in Australia and internationally, alongside trauma-focused CBT and other exposure-based approaches.
What is complex trauma?
Complex trauma generally refers to prolonged or repeated traumatic experiences, often relational (such as ongoing childhood adversity or sustained abuse), and can involve broader difficulties with emotional regulation, identity, and relationships beyond core PTSD symptoms. It often benefits from a longer-term, specifically tailored treatment approach.
Do I need a GP referral to see a psychologist for PTSD?
No — you can see a psychologist directly. A GP referral is only required if you want to access a Medicare rebate through a Mental Health Care Plan.
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