If you’re living with post-traumatic stress, you’re not weak or “broken”. Your nervous system has learned to stay on high alert. I offer calm, respectful care in my Hervey Bay clinic, and I work alongside your existing medical or psychology support.
Book Online | Call 07 4317 4349
That’s roughly 1 in 9 people, which shows how common trauma reactions can be.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), citing ABS National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing 2020–2022
Estimated lifetime PTSD sits around 14% for women and 8% for men.
Source: AIHW, citing ABS National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing 2020–2022
ABS “first insights” reporting listed PTSD at 5.7% over 12 months.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing 2020–21 (First Insights summary)
Australia
PTSD can show up as body symptoms as much as mind symptoms — tight jaw, shallow breathing, gut changes, headaches, and waking at 3am with your heart racing. Supporting the body can be one useful part of a wider recovery plan.
PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) can develop after events that overwhelm your sense of safety. Some people link it to one clear event. Others build it over time from repeated stress, violence, neglect, accidents, medical trauma, or workplace exposure.
PTSD doesn’t mean you’re “stuck”. It means your system adapted to survive. The aim of support is to help your brain and body learn safety again, step by step.
In Australia, PTSD affects a significant number of people across the lifespan. National data suggests around 11% of Australians experience PTSD at some point in life, with higher rates reported in women than men.
PTSD can also occur alongside anxiety, depression, insomnia, chronic pain, and fatigue. That overlap matters, because the best plan often supports both mind and body.
PTSD can shrink your world. You might feel “on edge” in crowds, avoid driving, dread bedtime, or feel exhausted from constant scanning for danger. Some people feel numb and disconnected. Others feel irritable, teary, or easily startled.
It can also affect relationships, parenting, work performance, and confidence. I often hear people say, “I can’t switch off.” That’s a nervous system pattern — not a personality flaw.
In modern care, PTSD support often includes trauma-focused psychological therapies, like trauma-focused CBT and EMDR, plus lifestyle supports and (for some people) medication. Many people work with their GP, psychologist, and support services over time.
I don’t diagnose PTSD. I also don’t replace trauma therapy. I provide supportive, body-based care that may help you cope with symptoms while you do the deeper work with the right professionals.
Acupuncture aims to influence the nervous system. In plain language, I use it to help the body shift out of “fight or flight” and into a calmer, more regulated state.
Research has explored acupuncture for PTSD symptoms, including sleep disturbance, anxiety, hyperarousal, and overall symptom severity. Results look promising in some studies, and mixed in others. I see it as supportive care, not a stand-alone fix.
If you’d like to read more about my core service, see: Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, and Herbal Medicine.
In Chinese medicine, I look at PTSD through patterns, not labels. Trauma can disrupt the Shen (mind-spirit), strain the Heart system, and lock the body into fight-or-flight through the Liver and Gallbladder networks.
Common patterns I see in stress-and-trauma presentations include:
This guides how I choose points, how gentle I go, and whether I add supportive options like breathing strategies, heat therapy, or herbs (when appropriate and safe).
Research has explored acupuncture for PTSD for many years. A 2013 systematic review described the evidence as encouraging but not yet definitive. More recent trials continue to investigate symptom changes compared with sham acupuncture.
My take: acupuncture may help some people with arousal, sleep, and body tension. It tends to work best when it sits inside a broader plan that includes trauma-informed psychological support.
First, I listen. We talk through your main symptoms, your sleep, your stress pattern, your energy, digestion, and what feels safe for you in a treatment room.
If you feel anxious about treatment, I can keep it simple: fewer needles, gentle points, and clear check-ins. You stay in control the whole time.
Many people start with weekly sessions for a short block, then we adjust based on response. I track changes in sleep, tension, mood steadiness, and day-to-day function.
I often combine acupuncture with other gentle supports, based on what suits you:
If stress is a major driver, you may also like my page on Stress Treatment.
If you want supportive care for PTSD symptoms like tension, poor sleep, overwhelm, or stress reactivity, I’m here to help. My clinic is located at Shop 4, 353 Esplanade, Scarness (Hervey Bay), QLD.
You can book online here: Book Online
Or call me on 07 4317 4349.
Note: Acupuncture and Chinese medicine provide supportive care. They don’t replace trauma-focused mental health treatment. If you’re in crisis or feel unsafe, call Lifeline 13 11 14 or 000.