28/08/2026
SATURDAY – MEDITATION – 29 AUG 2026. PTSD Peer Support online meet-up start times are listed below for the various regions.
7:00am QLD, NSW, VIC, ACT, TAS
6:30am SA, NT
5:00am WA
Meet-up is 1 hour duration
Meditation is a gentle practice that can help develop skills for managing stress, regulating emotions, increasing self-awareness, improving focus, and supporting healthy sleep. Research continues to show that meditation can have significant benefits for mental and physical wellbeing. If you're interested in learning more about the evidence behind meditation, feel free to send me a private message and I'll happily share some of the research, including studies from Harvard University.
Please speak with your treating health professional before beginning a meditation practice to ensure it is appropriate for your recovery. A special note for people living with PTSD: meditation can sometimes trigger dissociation, emotional overwhelm, or flashbacks. Checking with your therapist or mental health professional is important before beginning. Working with a trauma-informed meditation teacher can help ensure the practice is adapted to your needs and carried out in a safe, supportive way.
Meditation practices can help us shift our attention away from the constant stream of thoughts in our minds and towards our present-moment experience, including our surroundings, body sensations, and breathing. When we notice that our attention has drifted back to our thoughts, we gently guide it back to our breath and our awareness of the world around us.
It sounds simple, but many people find it challenging, and I certainly did. My attention would continually return to my thoughts like a homing pigeon finding its way home. Rather than seeing this as a failure, I learned that gently redirecting my attention back to my breath was actually the practice.
With time and regular practice, I began to experience the benefits of meditation. I can now use these skills to calm and ground myself in situations that I find stressful, such as airports, busy supermarkets, and crowded entertainment venues. While everyone's experience is different, meditation has become a valuable tool that helps me manage stress and stay connected to the present moment.
Some of the different types of meditation include guided meditation, breathing meditation, sound meditation, mantra meditation (focusing on a repeating sound, word, or phrase), mindfulness meditation, walking meditation, loving-kindness (compassion) meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, movement-based meditation (such as Tai Chi and Qigong), and yoga. Different styles suit different people, so it can be helpful to explore a variety of approaches to find what feels safe, comfortable, and beneficial for you.
Some Trauma-Informed Meditation Tips
Start with short sessions (1 to 5 minutes can be enough).
Choose a trauma-informed instructor or program when possible.
Consider movement-based practices such as yoga, Tai Chi, or walking meditation if sitting still feels difficult.
Keep your eyes open if closing them feels unsafe.
Focus on external surroundings rather than internal sensations if that feels more comfortable.
Remember that noticing your mind wander and gently bringing it back is the practice.
Most meditation practices include some form of breathwork because of its powerful calming effect on the body and mind. Our breathing provides a gentle rhythm that is always with us, making it an ideal focus point when we want to bring our attention into the present moment. By slowing our breathing and taking deeper, more deliberate breaths, we can help reassure our brain and nervous system that we are safe. This encourages the body to move away from a "fight or flight" response and towards a calmer "rest and digest" state, helping us feel more grounded and relaxed.
In many ways, learning to meditate is like learning to drive a manual car which is different to an automatic car. When learning to drive a manual car, you must learn how to take control of the vehicle by changing gears, managing its speed, steering its direction, and applying the brakes when needed. The goal is to drive in a way that is safe, comfortable, and calm. Learning to drive a manual car takes time, patience, and practice. No one expects to become a confident driver after a single lesson. Meditation is much the same. If you are thinking about trying meditation, start with a beginner's class, just as you would take driving lessons when learning to drive. Give yourself a reasonable amount of time to learn the skills and be patient with yourself as you practise.
There are many different forms of meditation, and not every approach will suit every person. Just as different cars have different features to meet different people's needs, different meditation practices offer different benefits and experiences. Explore a variety of styles and discover which ones feel most comfortable, safe, and effective for you. Most importantly, approach the journey with curiosity and a sense of adventure. Each practice is an opportunity to develop a deeper connection with yourself, your surroundings, and the present moment.
For those living with PTSD who are considering returning to meditation, I understand that it can be challenging. Before developing PTSD, I had a regular meditation practice that I found very beneficial. After my traumatic experience, however, I found it almost impossible to meditate. It has taken me four years to reconnect with the practice, and along the way I had to let go of my expectations and become a beginner again. Returning to meditation required me to take a trauma-informed approach and to work at a pace that felt safe and manageable. While the journey has not always been easy, I have found it worthwhile. Through meditation I discovered it is not possible to stop my mind from thinking. After all, thinking is what the mind is designed to do. What meditation has taught me, however, is that I don't have to give my thoughts my attention all the time. Instead, I can gently shift my focus to my breathing or my surroundings and allow my mind to continue thinking in the background. The thoughts are still there, but they no longer need to be the centre of my attention.
Once again, please consult your treating mental health professional before starting or returning to a meditation practice. It is also important to seek out a trauma-informed meditation teacher or class. These instructors are trained to create a safe and supportive environment and can help you if you begin to feel overwhelmed, activated, dissociated, or otherwise unwell during a practice. Meditation is not a replacement for professional mental health treatment.
Most importantly, be patient and compassionate with yourself. Recovery is not a race, and there is no right timeline for returning to meditation. Taking small, manageable steps and honouring your own limits can help create a safer and more positive experience.
Join us today as we share the many healing paths our journey has taken. We will provide form evidence based research and articles for you to explore todays topic in more depth.
COST: FREE, we believe financial challenges should not be a barrier to accessing support. If you would like to contribute towards the running costs of this resource, we would be very grateful. You can visit our website donate page. www.ptsdpeersupport.com/donate
HOW TO JOIN THE ONLINE MEET-UP, from the PTSD Peer Support website.
*** PTSD PEER SUPPORT Join via the website.
STEP by STEP - INSTRUCTION TO ACCESS THE ONLINE MEET-UP
(from your computer, similar from mobile phone)
1. Visit the website www.ptsdpeersupport.com
2. At the top of the page, click CALENDAR, then scroll down
to view CALENDAR, click on the date you would like to
attend. (check start times for your location)
3. Next click on the blue link labelled CLICK TO JOIN
4. Zoom platform will open - You can put your name in the
space "Edit your display name". Your camera will be on.
You can click on the camera icon to turn the camera off.
5. Click the blue - JOIN - button
6. You will be taken to a WAITING ROOM and the Moderator
of the Meet-Up will let you into the gathering.
7. Trouble getting access? Call 0478 022 022 for help
This ZOOM link will take you right into the online meet-up.
HOW TO JOIN THE ONLINE MEET-UP, using ZOOM.COM
*** ZOOM Join online meet-up via the ZOOM WEBSITE
1) go to zoom.com
2) click on the word JOIN.
3) in the "Meeting ID" box put our meeting ID: 843 5871 1531
4) Then when prompted, put the meet-up password - (If you do not have the password, please email [email protected] and we will send you the password).
If you need any assistance or have any questions, please email [email protected] or visit www.ptsdpeersupport.com
NOTE: This meet-up is not a Counselling, diagnosis or crisis support service. PTSD PEER SUPPORT is a mutual peer support recovery community for people with lived experience of PTSD, anxiety and depression. Any information shared on this site is shared purely as a resource and is not considered to be a substitute for professional mental health support. PTSD Peer Support encourages the use of evidence-based research on wellness strategies for PTSD, anxiety and depression. For urgent crisis support call LIFELINE 13-11-14