Health and Wellbeing

Recovery - What Does it Look Like?

The Road to Recovery podcast Season 4 Episode 1 is a personal story about the Black Summer Bushfires and the impact of COVID. This podcast may resonate with your own recent experiences. 

Recovery is a unique and individual process that everyone goes through differently. However, there are some common emotions that many people may experience.

  1. Shock at having to deal with something difficult and scary that you never experienced before.
  2. Denial or difficulty in accepting what has happened.
  3. Despair and anger at having to deal with what has happened.
  4. Acceptance of what has occurred and the changes it brings and accepting how others see you and how you see yourself.
  5. Coping by finding new ways to live with and tackle changes and challenges.
  6. Recovery goes beyond focusing on managing distressing symptoms. It’s about having choices and being able to create a meaningful life.

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How do I tell if I’m not recovering and when should I seek help?

An event which a person experiences as being traumatic or distressing results in the human body going into a state of heightened arousal. This is like an ‘emergency mode’ that involves a series of internal alarms being turned on. Most people only stay in ‘emergency mode’ for a short period of time or until the immediate threat has passed.

The normal healing and recovery process involves the body coming down out of a state of heightened arousal. In other words, the internal alarms turn off, the high levels of energy subside, and the body resets itself to a normal state. Typically, this should occur within approximately one month after the event.

Traumatic stress can cause very strong reactions in some people and may become chronic or ongoing. Seek professional help if you:

  • are highly distressed by intense feelings or physical sensations
  • continue to feel numb and empty
  • feel that you are not returning to normal after three or four weeks
  • continue to have disturbed sleep or nightmares
  • deliberately try to avoid anything that reminds you of the distressing event
  • find that relationships with loved ones are suffering
  • are using more alcohol or drugs
  • cannot return to work or manage your normal responsibilities
  • keep reliving the traumatic experience
  • feel very much on edge and can be easily startled.

The ‘How are You Going’ resource could help you reflect and act on your current feelings and behaviours. 

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This information is from the Centre for Rural and Remote Health.