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The Thompson Institute.<\/p>\nFeeling stressed after a traumatic event is normal, but a global post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) expert says there are clear signs that it may be time to seek a diagnosis.<\/p>\n
Professor Alain Brunet, director of the National PTSD Research Centre at the University of the Sunshine Coast\u2019s Thompson Institute, says while stress reactions are common, the key factor is how long they last.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople should give themselves time to bounce back, and it\u2019s normal to experience symptoms such as nightmares, intrusive thoughts, startling easily, difficulty concentrating, emotional withdrawal, avoidance or hypervigilance, even flashbacks,\u201d Professor Brunet said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese\u00a0are all normal responses, but the duration is what we need to watch. If after several weeks these symptoms are still occurring,\u00a0this is when\u00a0people should\u00a0consider seeking\u00a0further expert support.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Thompson Institute.<\/p>\n
Professor Brunet, a global leader in PTSD who has developed a promising new treatment\u00a0called Reconsolidation Therapy,\u00a0said a good first stop was\u00a0a\u00a0free pre-diagnostic screening tool<\/a>\u00a0to help people\u00a0determine\u00a0if they meet the threshold to pursue a diagnosis.<\/p>\n \u201cThis tool uses questions about your experiences and symptoms to assess your likelihood that you have PTSD, and is entirely confidential,\u201d Professor Brunet said.<\/p>\n \u201cOf\u00a0course,\u00a0any\u00a0mental health diagnosis will still need to occur with a qualified health professional such as your GP, but this screener could be the difference between someone\u00a0ignoring\u00a0their\u00a0symptoms, or\u00a0realising they might need help.<\/p>\n \u201cPTSD diagnoses are on the rise in Australia, exacerbated by floods, bushfires and other climate change-related weather events, and of course terrible events like what happened at Bondi,\u201d Professor Brunet said.<\/p>\n Want more free local news? Follow Sunshine Coast News on Facebook<\/a>, LinkedIn <\/a>and Instagram<\/a>, and sign up<\/a> for our FREE daily news email.<\/p>\n Anyone\u00a0affected by such events\u00a0need to\u00a0take their time to process a traumatic event before\u00a0gradually resuming\u00a0normal activities, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe great majority of people will return to normal functioning in good time, which is why it is important to ensure safety has returned, properly acknowledge what has occurred, comfort each other and check in with our loved ones, and participate in collective rituals such as memorial services and laying flowers, which are all important steps towards healing.\u201d<\/p>\n The\u00a0National PTSD Research Centre\u00a0at\u00a0UniSC\u2019s\u00a0Thompson Institute\u00a0is home to world-class research, clinical\u00a0trials\u00a0and community outreach.<\/p>\n The centre also offers\u00a0helpful resources for people experiencing trauma<\/a>, and is currently\u00a0running clinical trials for\u00a0Reconsolidation Therapy<\/a>, a promising new treatment for PTSD.<\/p>\n Professor Brunet said\u00a0the therapy is\u00a0exciting for clinicians because\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0no current cure for PTSD, however this treatment can be effective in as\u202flittle as six sessions. It has already been taught to clinicians dealing with the effects of war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n