PTSD Symptoms May Emerge As Holidays End, Expert Says

An international expert in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is urging Australians affected by the Bondi shooting event to check in with their wellbeing one month on.

Professor Alain Brunet, Director of the University of the Sunshine Coast Thompson Institute, home of the National PTSD Research Centre, is available to comment.

“Now is when we often see symptoms could start to emerge. Things are returning to normal. After a period of intense social support and time spent with family over the holidays, this is when we are likely to see more people reporting symptoms and starting to struggle,” he says.

• Professor Brunet says stress symptoms one month after a traumatic event could be a sign of PTSD. While stress symptoms are normal following a traumatic event, it’s the duration that matters
• A good first step is using a free pre-diagnostic screening toolto help determine if someone meets the threshold to pursue a medical diagnosis
• Professor Brunet has developed a promising new treatment called Reconsolidation Therapy. He will be delivering free training to clinicians in Sydney on Feb 26/27

“People should give themselves time to bounce back, and it’s normal to experience symptoms such as nightmares, intrusive thoughts, startling easily, difficulty concentrating, emotional withdrawal, avoidance or hypervigilance, even flashbacks,” Professor Brunet says.

“These are all normal responses, but the duration is what we need to watch. If after several weeks these symptoms are still occurring, this is when people should consider seeking further expert support.”

The National PTSD Research Centre at UniSC’s Thompson Institute is home to world-class research, clinical trials and community outreach.The centre also offers helpful resources for people experiencing trauma.

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