Trauma is an emotional, psychological or physical response to a very negative or disturbing event.
- witnessing a death
- a near-death experience
- torture or captivity
How trauma feels
Everyone experiences trauma in their own way.
Some common experiences include:
- feeling helpless
- feeling anxious and restless
- anger or violence
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events.
Someone with PTSD often relives the traumatic event through nightmares and flashbacks.
Alcohol and trauma
It's normal to want to avoid negative or unpleasant feelings.
Alcohol may give some temporary relief from the symptoms of trauma.
Over time, relying on alcohol in this way can reduce your ability to cope with stress and anxiety. It will not resolve the impact of the trauma.
In the long run, it can make things significantly worse. It may prevent you from getting the support you need to recover from your trauma.
If you are worried about your alcohol use, take our alcohol test to find out what type of drinker you are.
Dealing with trauma
Some healthy ways to deal with trauma include:
- having counselling or therapy
- sharing your feelings with a supportive listener
- talking to people who have been through something similar
- doing things that help you to relax