What it can feel like
- Flashbacks, nightmares, numbness, shame, anger, jumpiness or feeling constantly alert.
- Avoiding reminders, places, people, memories or conversations.
- Feeling disconnected from your body, your life or other people.
Why it can happen
- Trauma can follow abuse, violence, accidents, loss, medical trauma, bullying, neglect, discrimination, war, disaster or repeated threat.
- The nervous system may keep acting as though danger is still present, even after the event has passed.
What can help
- Prioritise safety and stabilisation before digging into painful memories.
- Grounding can help: name where you are, the date and one thing that tells you this moment is different from the past.
- Trauma-informed therapy can help people process what happened at a safe pace.
- Avoid forcing yourself to relive details before you have support.
Free support options
- Use Thrive & Rise grounding, breathing and resource pages for stabilisation.
- Look for local trauma-informed services, survivor organisations or public health support.
Important note
This guide is for education and signposting. It cannot diagnose you or replace care from a qualified professional. If you feel at risk, seek urgent local help.