The Little Blue Book

Emotional and psychological vulnerability Whatever the circumstances or experiences that triggered the disorder, sufferers of PTSD commonly carry an emotional and psychological vulnerability that can undermine their resilience to everyday stresses and pressures that come with the vagaries of life. For these people, simply coping with the day-to-day can be an ongoing battle. If the PTSD is not recognised (and sufferers themselves may be unaware of the disorder they carry, other than an awareness of the turmoil inside), and if not treated, or overlooked, overlapping stress triggers can be very dangerous. The symptoms might also be delayed, pushed deep down, only later to re-surface in response to a subsequent traumatic or stressful event. Exposure to workplace bullying, victimisation, or violence, for instance, may trigger an intense stress reaction, emotional turmoil, and chronic anxiety and depression. (1) https://www.dva.gov.au/health-and-wellbeing/mental-health/posttraumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd Emergency personnel Emergency personnel, ‘first responders’ to crisis, are at particular risk of PTSD. People in these roles – like police, ambulance, health workers, firefighters and defence personnel – routinely put their personal safety and wellbeing on the line as part of their self- sacrificial work-day duties. Many are witness to events and situations that can leave deep psychological and emotional scars. And may carry with them intense and unsettling images for months and even years afterwards. Feelings of extreme distress, flashbacks, nightmares, tearfulness, avoidance and difficulty sleeping are common – and normal – psychological reactions to experiences of this type. Because none of us is born with ‘teflon armour’, exposure to stressful events and the human pain that accompanies them can profoundly affect psychological wellbeing. “Between 5% and 10% of the general community are likely to develop PTSD at some point in their lives, compared to between 5% and 20% of (Australian Defence Force) veterans. Among current serving members, about 8%have experienced PTSD in a given year, compared to 5% of the general community.” 1 For the sufferer, PTSD can be crippling; it can eat into every part of the day and night, sit at the edge of every waking hour and endure long after the experience of the trauma. 65 ADA Australia PostScript Section 2 Section 1 Section 3