Shark Attack Survivor Says He Still Has Sleepless Nights 14 Years Later: 'The PTSD Will Always Be with Me' (Exclusive)

A shark attack survivor is speaking candidly about how he deals with the trauma of the incident over a decade later.

Dave Pearson was bitten by an almost 10-foot bull shark while surfing with friends on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales in Australia in 2011.

Speaking exclusively with PEOPLE, Pearson says he is “mostly okay” in the aftermath, “but I guess the PTSD will always be with me, in some way or another.”

“I still try and surf as much as I can, but there are times when things do not feel right, and I am too uncomfortable to stay in the ocean, especially if I see a shark,” he continues.

As for whether or not he has sleepless nights over a decade after his attack, Pearson admits, “There are still times, particularly after there has been a serious attack. The closer to home, the more affect it can have.”

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According to Pearson, the PTSD he suffers from “can manifest as anger, depression, frustration or hopelessness.”

Still, he says he is lucky, as his family is “really good at seeing I am doing it and support me through it.”

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Pearson also counts on fellow victims of shark attacks for support, including those in the private Facebook group he created, called Bite Club.

“Bite Club helps us, because when you are with others who have been affected by the shark, we all know how it feels, and it normalizes the experience, because everyone has had that experience,” he tells PEOPLE. “There is no judgment when we discuss the issues we deal with, because most of us have had, or are having, similar issues.”

Pearson says he also gets involved in other shark-centric situations not related specifically to his social media group.

“There are times when we conduct community engagement, or I reach out to families, after serious or fatal attacks,” he explains.

“I quite often speak with witnesses who are still in shock and dealing with trauma, trying to come to terms with what they witnessed,” Pearson adds of providing support to others affected. “These conversations can be very tough and can take me a few days to settle afterward.”

Pearson says he will also “get involved in discussions with people manufacturing shark deterrents and those involved in shark mitigation.”

“Many people come to me for advice, so I would like to be able to give them the best advice, or at least point them in the direction to find the best advice,” he explains to PEOPLE.