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4 •
trauma
+
substance use
What happens to your alcohol, tobacco or other drug use when you
are experiencing trauma symptoms?
When should I seek help?
• Most people who go through a traumatic event will not require treatment.
• For many people, the feelings they experience will be distressing, but they will settle
within a month or so. But for some, the symptoms may continue or get worse. In a
few cases, these may develop into more serious conditions such as depression, post
traumatic stress disorder, or other anxiety disorders.
• You should seek professional assistance if you answer yes to any of the following questions
(see pages 14–16):
Are your symptoms very distressing?
Have you had them for more than a couple of weeks?
Do they interfere with your home, work, study, relationships or social life?
Do you use alcohol, tobacco or other drugs to cope?
Have you thought about harming yourself or others?
How are trauma symptoms treated?
• Effective treatments are available. Both psychological therapy and medication can help
people affected by traumatic events recover.
Psychological therapy
• Psychological treatments usually involve trauma-focused therapy. These focus on
providing education, stress management techniques, and helping the person to confront
feared situations and distressing memories.
• If you’re interested in seeing a psychologist, your GP can help you by preparing a mental
health plan, and referring you to an appropriate psychologist.
Medication
• Medication, particularly some of the anti-depressant drugs, may also be helpful
alongside trauma-focused psychological therapy.