The emotional aftermath of a traumatic event can be devastating. Those that have experienced trauma find their views of life may have shifted. It can leave us feeling vulnerable, helpless and even numb.

It is common for people to experience nightmares, difficulty concentrating or focusing, sleep disturbance, appetite changes and low mood after trauma. Anxiety, fear and hopelessness are a few symptoms that can linger after traumatic events.

When trauma is constant, it can be difficult to manage, and particularly when you feel that you just need to ‘suck it up’. There is no right or wrong way to feel after a traumatic incident but is common for people to feel as though they are numb or that they had an out of body experience.

After traumatic events, people find that they react differently to situations, maybe feeling more alert or hypervigilant, or even less safe when leaving the house in general.

Working with a psychologist may help you to identify what the event was, the triggers you experience now and learn strategies to better cope with and manage them.