Post traumatic stress disorder

Post traumatic stress disorder occurs as a result of exposure to one or more traumatic events in your life causing intense feelings of horror, helplessness and fear. Trauma comes in many forms with child abuse being one of them. Sometimes people continue to feel hurt and upset some time after an event.

There are people who can help. Contact your family doctor for more information or talk with a guidance counsellor at school.

What you can do to help yourself:

• Confide in an adult you trust how you are feeling, this may be a teacher, parent or school counsellor for example. Talk to them about situations which can cause you to experience triggers and/or flashbacks
• Take up some light exercise to reduce your stress levels such as going for a walk with a friend, a run or taking up swimming
• Any type of creative artwork can be a positive source of expression/outlet for feelings and emotions
• Set realistic goals for yourself. Break down larger goals or projects into more manageable tasks
• Realise that improvements in how you are feeling will be a gradual development and not something that will happen overnight
• Actively look for situations, people and places which have a calming and relaxing effect on you and spend time there.