Trauma

NORMAL REACTIONS TO TRAGIC EVENTS

When we experience a traumatic loss that is outside the normal range of our daily experience, the  stress of dealing with the aftermath of the tragedy may have overwhelmed many of our normal coping strategies.

No one who sees or experiences a traumatic event is untouched by it.  In fact, trauma impacts all areas of an individual’s life. Although everyone reacts differently, the following are some common and normal reactions:

Physical	Cognitive	Emotional	Behavioral
Lack of energy Nausea Tightness in chest Difficulty breathing Weakness Headaches Rapid heart rate Gridning of teeth Dry mouth, thirst Vomiting Visual difficulties Feeling shaky Profuse sweating Chills Sickness	Who? What? When? Why? Shock, disbelief Denial Confusion Recurrent thoughts Poor concentration Memory problems Feeling “scattered” Poor decisions Poor problem solving Nightmares Intrusive images Hypervigilance	Anxiety Fear Sadness & despair Guilt & blame Numbness Panic Vulnerability Helplessness Anger Irritability Loss of control Loss of faith Loneliness Relief Regret	Withdrawal Outbursts Change in activity Insomnia Changes in appetite Drinking alcohol Taking drugs Pacing Avoidance Crying Sighing Restless activity

 

Reactions to a traumatic event can vary according to:

• Level of exposure to the incident
• Level of functioning and stress prior to the event
• Previous experience with loss and crisis
• Degree of social support available
• Spiritual involvement

1) It is common for people to experience intense aftershocks following a horrible event.  It is important for you to know that these reactions:

• Are normal and do not imply craziness or weakness; in fact, their absence is more of a cause for concern.
• Sometimes occur during or immediately after the event; sometimes they occur days later; other times weeks or months may pass before they appear.
• May last a few days, a few weeks, a few months, or occasionally longer depending on the severity of the event.
• May be triggered at some later point in your life by something that reminds you of the event (e.g., sights or smells, anniversary, news reports about a similar event).
• May be made worse by insensitive reactions of others (e.g., friends and family who “say the wrong thing,” media reports which may appear blaming and callous, etc.).

2) Basic assumptions about the world are likely to be challenged.  Most people approach daily life with the beliefs that:

• They are safe.
• Events are orderly, predictable, controllable, and fair.
• People are trustworthy and worth relating to.

With these beliefs, we can proceed through life with relative confidence.  However, when a tragedy shakes or shatters these beliefs, a person may lose hope and see the world and life as filled with danger, uncertainty, and suffering.  The rebuilding of a more balanced and positive belief system is an important task for individuals who have experienced a traumatic event.

3) Some questions may never have satisfactory answers.  In their efforts to understand and give meaning to a tragedy, survivors often struggle with questions like:

• Why did this happen?
• Could it have been anticipated or predicted?
• Could it have been stopped or changed through human action?
• What could I have done differently?

While many opinions may be expressed in response to these questions, answers to these questions will typically be ambiguous and elusive.

4) Most people are extraordinarily resilient and able to “bounce back” after experiencing a tragedy.

Following a crisis, people often feel overwhelmed and distressed, but these responses are normally  transitory in nature and rarely suggest a serious mental disturbance or illness.  Experiencing a  tragic event can uncover an individual’s previously hidden strengths and unmined abilities.

Seeking help when one is in need of it is a sign of strength and can aid in resilience.

Emergency? Call 911

Talk to your primary care doctor, licensed mental health agency, trusted family member, friend, classmate.

Or just need to talk? Speak to a nonjudgmental, volunteer at The Samaritans of RI 401.272.4044.

Credit: Adapted from Brown University’s “Counseling and Psychological Services – Normal Reactions to Tragic Events”  April 2015.

 

 

 

 

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