People in Teesside could suffer PTSD from Bonfire Night fireworks
PTSD could be triggered from the loud bangs
A Ukrainian refugee and a former soldier in Teesside are telling us about the effects fireworks can have on them.
It is thought post traumatic stress disorder could be triggered from the loud bangs.
Olga Bakumenko, a Ukrainian refugee currently living in Stokesley, said: "I used to enjoy fireworks greatly before February 2022, so now being here I would be a bit anxious and I would expect the loud sounds could trigger some emotions like fear, a desire to shrink, to go down and to stay somewhere very low. It's something that's not under your control, it's just your body responding to this.
"I talked a bit with my Ukrainian friends, mothers and childrens and a number of them were exposed to heavy shelling, bombing and they were definitely traumatised mentally."
Tony McGlone is a former soldier from Saltburn and he said: "Time's a healer. Chin up. That's all I can say. I feel sorry for any of those that are still going through things like that, but time is a healer. The Royal British Legion are there to help if anybody has got issues.
"It was terrible. It was like being back. It was difficult, so I do understand what they were going through, but there are people out there who will listen and help you.
"If you're suffering with any of this, don't be ashamed. Come forward. Speak to people because it does help. You can get things off your chest and talk to people who've been through the same things as yourself and it would be nice to get a branch back in this area."
MAIN is an autism support charity for children and young people in Middlesbrough.
Its Chief Executive, Heather Whyman, said: "Have a little party at the house, invite friends, neighbours and family over. Stay within an area. Close the curtains if your child has ear defenders, that also could be used at fireworks.
"It can be quite distressing but I think if our parents are talking to our children about it and explaining that it's fun and trying to make sure that we're breaking it down, so we're not just looking at it as a firework going off, we're actually preempting it by talking about the lights, how bright it is, how pretty it is.
"Use it in a social story, you don't need to have the noise if they have ear defenders, they could draw pictures, set it up so that you're actually breaking it down into such a way that it becomes little elements rather than it just being an impact of one."