27/10/2026
For many, Bonfire Night is a moment of celebration, but for some veterans living with PTSD, it can be an incredibly difficult time.
The sudden bangs, flashes of light, shrill whistles and lingering smoke closely resemble the sights, sounds and smells of warfare. For a veteran with PTSD, the brain can register these as a genuine threat, making it hard to separate past from present.
Simon, an Army veteran, describes his experience: “The sounds, the unexpected whiz, thumps, cracks, that’s what triggers me …. Being shot at, all you hear is the crack as the bullet passes the sound barrier, the delayed thump from the firing point, it all comes flooding back. The large bangs unexpected, without warning… was it an IED, was it a car bomb in the next street... My mind works overtime.”
Lee Robinson, Acting Clinical Director at Combat Stress said, “If, and only if, you are confident and able to, in the period leading up to fireworks night you can begin gradually exposing yourself to fireworks in a way that is in your control. You can watch videos or audio clips of fireworks with the sounds turned down, each day gradually turning the volume up as you feel able, while practicing the techniques below.
“This gradual and repeated exposure can help the brain to recognise the sights and sounds as safe, loosening the connection with experiences of the past.”
For more tips on coping with fireworks, visit our website: https://combatstress.org.uk/fireworks
And if you are struggling, our free, confidential 24-hour Helpline is here for veterans, and for family, friends and carers: 0800 138 1619.
