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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Stuck in a doomscrolling dive? Here are signs of 'vicarious trauma' to watch out for

Experts think exposure to traumatic content on social media, such as uncensored images coming out of the Middle East, can give some people PTSD. So what signs should you look out for, and how can you protect yourself?
A girl sitting cross-legged looking at her phone with a worried look on her face; and her forehead in the palm of her hand

Abuse splintered Maggie's mind into multiple personalities but she's learned to 'co-exist'

It took years for Maggie Walters to be diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder. For many like her, the journey is marked by financial hardship and stigma, but Maggie hopes her story shows happiness is possible.
A aged school photo of a smiling primary school aged girl with short blond hair.

When JoJo's family finally landed in Sydney it was a celebration — then reality quickly set in

Jo Jo and her family endured a harrowing journey to escape Gaza just in time. But their relief at finding safety in Australia is bittersweet as tens of thousands more remained trapped in the territory with nowhere to go.
Updated
Juamana holding up a peace sign in Egypt.

Four Corners profiled Ange's mum in 1996. Now she's a mum trying to do things differently

Childhood maltreatment is responsible for up to 41 per cent of common mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, substance abuse, self-harm and suicide attempts, according to a new study.
Updated
Mother smiles adoringly with her arm around her daughter as they look into each other's eyes.

Ecstasy's active ingredient to be used in $3.9m clinical trial treating PTSD in Lismore flood victims

It is hoped MDMA — the active ingredient in the recreational drug ecstasy — will help flood survivors find self-compassion and relief as part of a trial funded by the federal government.
Updated
hundreds of white capsules in plastic buckets

This veteran was in the shower when his navy warship collided with an aircraft carrier. He considers his legacy

Brian Hopkins was one of the last people to escape after two Australian naval ships collided. Living with terminal cancer, he revisits his former life and considers his legacy.
Updated
An older man wearing his decorated military uniform aboard a destroyer ship

A Victoria Cross recipient's struggle with PTSD

Keith Payne says nothing has been done to help veterans battling post traumatic stress disorder.
VC Winner's PTSD Struggle, Keith Payne: A man examines a framed photograph.
Duration: 1 minute 42 seconds

One fateful night, Keith Payne saved 40 lives. Now he's calling for help to save others

Keith Payne was awarded the Victoria Cross for extreme bravery in Vietnam. More than 50 years on, he still can’t shake the trauma of war. But he's learned how to live with it.
Portrait image of Keith Payne

analysis:The mining of social media profiles for public photos after newsworthy deaths only exacerbates trauma

In the wake of horrific, newsworthy events, many journalists turn to social media for details and photographs of the people at the centre of tragedy. But bereaved families deserve respect and control over the lasting images of their loved ones.
The camera focuses on a red heart balloon floating above a large group of flowers on a street.

A man murdered seven people at a Sydney shopping centre in the 90s. Three decades on, the trauma remains

In 1991, seven people were killed when a man entered Strathfield Plaza with a knife and a semi-automatic weapon. For some, the Bondi Junction stabbing attack was a traumatic reminder.
Composite image of the front of Strathfield Plaza in 1991 and Westfield Bondi Junction in 2024.

How to talk to children about the trauma of the Bondi Junction stabbings

How do you talk to children about the horror of the stabbings when you struggle to process it yourself.
A child watches television

This soldier 'lost his identity' after leaving the army but found it again where he had been deployed

PTSD, anxiety and depression dogged Michael Jefferies after he left the military, but he was able to start healing in an unexpected place.
Michael Jeffries was diagnosed with PTSD and major depressive disorder after he left the Australian army.

Former cop finds new life after moving from career focused on crime to one that's all about creativity

For 20 years, the police force was Maggie Deall's identity. But when she was medically discharged in 2021, she says she was left without a sense of self.
a woman smiling with various colourful paintings situated behind her

New Tasmanian spins a way around post-traumatic stress disorder through mobile yarn business

Jaymi Milic moved to Tasmania and started a horse float-based yarn store in a bid to reduce her post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, and it is working.
A woman in a red shirt smiling to camera with a horse float filled with colourful yarn-related products in the background.

After a decade of service, James struggled to adjust to life after war — then he found ballet

Veterans are swapping combat boots for ballet shoes as part of a new program aimed at helping improve their mental health.
Updated
Larissa Fletcher and James Wilfred-Derby dancing

Women who fled conflict for a new life are turning to dolls to help deal with the past

A doll-making class in Perth's northern suburbs is helping refugee women make sense of the trauma they have experienced while raising awareness of mental health.
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A group of fabric dolls laying on a table.

Music helps Kev find his voice again after near-fatal motorcycle accident

Kev Mauger suffered horrific head trauma and injuries after being catapulted over his motorcycle handlebars four years ago. Despite being told he would never play guitar again, his love for music has been key in his recovery.
A man wearing a blue, black and white shirt playing the guitar to two young children

'You can't quit': CJ's marathon for charity didn't stop, even after injury

When he learned 60 men an hour take their lives globally, CJ wanted to do something to help. Project 60 saw him complete a 60km marathon every day for one month, starting before dawn each day.
A man running along the Townsville waterfront at dawn

How surfing is helping Andrew deal with 16 years of trauma from his job as a paramedic

As the sun rises on a chilly Wollongong morning, a group of about 20 people gather for the Waves of Wellness program, each with their own unique story to tell.
A group of people sit in a circle on surfboards, on a beach at sunrise.

Norman Swan discusses an epidemic of PTSD from the Gaza Israel conflict

Dr Norman Swan discusses an epidemic of PTSD from the Gaza Israel conflict.
ABC News Current
Duration: 3 minutes 17 seconds

Powerful images of 'reluctant heroes' help veterans reclaim trauma

Getting veterans from the frontline to sit in front of a camera can be a challenge, but Mick Jones has photographed more than 50 ex-service personnel, sparking conversations about service, sacrifice and humanity.
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Three veterans wearing service medals

When this teacher rode 12,000km around Australia, he didn't expect to help so many people

Bob Sheridan did not seek help to deal with the trauma of his childhood until he was in his 60s. When he decided to champion a cause dear to his heart, he did not imagine the impact it would have.
Bob Sheridan riding through the Kimberly, WA

Live sport can be challenging for neurodivergent fans. Here's what support is available at the Women's World Cup

FIFA is providing assistance to fans with autism, ADHD and PTSD, in the form of sensory rooms, visual cue cards and more. But does more need to be done?
A woman wearing a bright yellow jacket sits on an oversized soccer ball, a child sits on her lap. They're on a football field.

Psychedelics — Healing the Spirit?

Using psychedelics to treat depression and trauma has just become legal in Australia. But it's not without risk.
ABC News Current
Duration: 32 seconds

Women reveal birth trauma 'nightmares' in the Illawarra Shoalhaven health district

Several women reveal their birth traumas at an event in Wollongong, saying the experiences left them suffering "flashbacks and nightmares" and unwilling to have more children.
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woman with black hair and white jumper