Living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can affect every aspect of life — from mood and concentration to sleep and relationships. Many people in Brisbane are searching for ways to find calm, regain stability, and reconnect with themselves. Various forms of PTSD support are available in Brisbane, designed to help people move towards recovery.

What is PTSD? 

PTSD can develop after a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. While the severity varies, the impact can be significant. 

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

PTSD can cause a wide range of symptoms, from mild to severe. Some may affect a person’s ability to manage daily tasks, maintain work routines, or navigate relationships. These may include:

• Anxiety and distress

• Nightmares or flashbacks

• Erratic behaviour and hyper-vigilance

• Negative mood, mood swings, or hyperactivity

• Poor concentration and avoidance of reminders of the event

Other common PTSD symptoms include:

• Recurrent or intrusive memories of the traumatic event

• Distressing dreams or insomnia

• Strong emotional or physical reactions to reminders of the event

• Avoiding thoughts or discussions about what happened

• Negative or hopeless thinking

• Memory issues or difficulty concentrating

• Feeling detached from loved ones

• Loss of interest in usual activities

• Emotional numbness or difficulty experiencing joy

• Self-destructive behaviours such as substance use

• Feelings of guilt or shame

• Irritability, angry outbursts, or aggression

These patterns may come and go, and can intensify during times of stress. Ongoing PTSD support can help individuals recognise triggers, regulate emotions, and build resilience.

What causes PTSD? 

There are many possible causes, including experiencing or witnessing:

• Car accidents or fatal injuries

• Combat or physical violence

• Sexual assault or abuse

• Bullying or harassment

• Attacks on identity, culture, or race

• Childbirth trauma

• Emotional or psychological abuse (often referred to as Complex PTSD)

• Severe injury or neglect

Each person’s experience is different, and so are the symptoms that develop. The right PTSD support professionals can tailor care to suit individual needs.

What triggers a PTSD response? 

Triggers are reminders that cause distress, anxiety, or dissociation, often linking back to the original trauma. These may include:

• Sounds, smells, or locations similar to the traumatic event

• High-stress situations

• Anniversaries of the event

• Emotional or physical cues that feel familiar to the trauma

Recognising and learning to manage triggers is an important part of recovery.

How is PTSD treated? 

There are many approaches to treating PTSD, and a combination of therapies often yields the best results. Stress management and nervous system regulation are key to improving quality of life and reducing the intensity of symptoms.

Treatment options may include:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

• Talk therapy

• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)

• Medication

Complementary lifestyle approaches can also help, such as:

• Mindfulness and meditation

• Breathing exercises and grounding techniques

• Gentle physical activity or yoga

• Balanced nutrition and regular sleep

• Time outdoors

• Meaningful connection with loved ones and supportive communities

Every person is unique, and PTSD support needs to be personalised, flexible, and compassionate. 

In Bessel van der Kolk’s work — particularly in The Body Keeps the Score — healing from PTSD is described as re-establishing a sense of safety, agency, and connection in the present.

Here are a few key ideas from his approach:

• The body holds the memory of trauma, even when the mind tries to suppress it.

• Healing happens through the body — by restoring calm and regulation to the nervous system.

• The goal is to feel safe in your body again, not to forget or erase what happened.

• Recovery involves integration — allowing past experiences to become part of one’s story without dominating the present