Conditions
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after experiencing or witnessing events involving actual or threatened death, serious injury or violence: combat, assault, accidents, disasters, medical emergencies, or repeated exposure to traumatic material through work, as experienced by many first responders and defence personnel.
PTSD involves four clusters of symptoms: re-experiencing the trauma through intrusive memories, flashbacks and nightmares; avoiding reminders, conversations and feelings connected to it; negative changes in mood and thinking, including guilt, shame, numbness and detachment from others; and a constantly heightened state of alert, with irritability, poor sleep, exaggerated startle and difficulty concentrating. Symptoms may begin soon after the event or surface months or years later.
It is important to know that distress after trauma is a normal human response, and most people recover naturally with time and support. PTSD is what happens when that natural recovery becomes stuck, and treatment exists precisely to get it unstuck. Developing PTSD is not weakness; it reflects the severity of what happened, not a failure of the person it happened to.
Effective treatments
PTSD is treatable, even decades after the trauma. The strongest evidence supports trauma-focused psychological therapies, including trauma-focused CBT, prolonged exposure, cognitive processing therapy, and EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing). These therapies help the brain finally process the traumatic memory so it loses its raw, present-tense power, conducted at a pace you control with a clinician you trust.
Medication can reduce the intensity of symptoms such as hyperarousal, low mood and sleep disturbance, supporting your capacity to engage in therapy. For PTSD that has not responded to standard treatment, rTMS is an emerging evidence-based option available on site at Mind Connections.
Particular expertise with veterans and first responders
Mind Connections has more than two decades of experience supporting veterans, defence personnel and police with service-related PTSD, including DVA-funded treatment, medico-legal and impairment assessments, group programs for social reintegration, and family support. See our Defence and Veterans Support page for the full range of services.
Frequently asked questions
Can PTSD develop years after the event?
Yes. Delayed-onset PTSD is well recognised, and symptoms can surface long after the trauma, sometimes triggered by a life change, another stressful event, or retirement from the role where the trauma occurred. Treatment is effective regardless of how much time has passed.
Will I have to talk about the trauma in detail?
Trauma-focused therapy does involve working with the traumatic memory, but always at a pace you control, after a foundation of safety and coping skills is built. Some approaches, such as EMDR, require less verbal retelling than others. Nothing happens without your agreement.
I was not the one in danger; I witnessed it. Can I still have PTSD?
Yes. Witnessing trauma, learning of trauma to a loved one, and repeated occupational exposure to traumatic material can all cause PTSD. Your experience is valid and treatable.
What is the difference between PTSD and complex PTSD?
Complex PTSD can develop after prolonged or repeated trauma, often beginning in childhood, and includes additional difficulties with emotional regulation, self-worth and relationships. Assessment distinguishes the two, and treatment is adapted accordingly.
Do nightmares and poor sleep ever go away?
Sleep disturbance is one of the most treatable parts of PTSD, through trauma-focused therapy, specific techniques for nightmares, and where appropriate, medication. Improved sleep often accelerates the rest of recovery.
Is PTSD treatment covered for veterans?
Yes. DVA Gold Card holders, and White Card holders with accepted mental health conditions, can access treatment at Mind Connections under the DVA fee schedule, typically with no gap. Our reception team can help confirm your entitlements.
What if treatment has not worked for me before?
Do not give up. Outcomes depend heavily on the type and quality of previous therapy, and options including a different evidence-based therapy, medication review, and rTMS remain. A fresh specialist assessment at Mind Connections will map out what has genuinely been tried and what should come next.
How can my family support me?
Understanding PTSD changes everything for families: the irritability, distance and avoidance make sense as symptoms rather than rejection. With your consent, family members can be involved in your care, and family support programs are available, particularly through our veterans services.
Getting Started
Your first appointment, made simple
Visit our 'What to expect' page to learn more about the booking process.
Obtain a referral
For psychiatry, ask your GP for a referral. For psychology, ask your GP for a Mental Health Care Plan and referral. This is what enables your Medicare rebates.
Book online or call us
Choose your clinician, location and time online, 24/7, or call our friendly reception team and we'll find a time that suits.
Attend your appointment
In person or by telehealth. Your first session is about understanding you, your history and what you'd like help with.