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What
is a Traumatic Stress Reaction?
People who experience or witness horrible events
such as school shootings, combat, rape, torture,
natural disasters, accidents or other things in
which their physical safety and life -- or the safety
and life of others -- was in danger have experienced
a traumatic stress. People who are repeatedly exposed
to life or death situations, such as EMT and rescue
squad workers, police officers, fire fighters and
medical personnel on burn wards or trauma units
where stress levels and mortality rates are high
also witness trauma. Anyone who has experienced
these things has experienced a shock and, even if
all ultimately escape danger, the people who lived
through the event may feel like life “just
isn’t the same anymore.” People may
experience a variety of reactions, many of which
are understandable in the context of experiencing
or witnessing traumatic events such as the hurricanes.
Experiencing physical or emotional symptoms in response
to a traumatic event is normal and is called a traumatic
stress reaction.
Physical Symptoms of Traumatic Stress
Anyone affected by the hurricanes or other traumatic
stress may experience:
· Fatigue
· Being easily startled
· Headaches
· Sweating
· Gastro-intestinal problems
Emotional Symptoms of Traumatic Stress
Those affected by traumatic stress may feel:
· Fear
· Anger
· Guilt
· Anxiety
· Reduced awareness
· Feeling like you are numb or not part of
the world
· Helplessness
· Hopelessness
What is PTSD?
PTSD stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
This is similar to a stress reaction and, in fact,
many people who have experienced a traumatic event
do develop PTSD. Those with PTSD may experience
many of the same emotional and physical symptoms
as those with a traumatic stress reaction. Those
with PTSD, however, experience trauma along with
intense fear, helplessness or horror and then develop
intrusive symptoms (such as flashbacks or nightmares).
Their symptoms will last more than a month and get
in the way of normal life.
Traumatic stress is not uncommon. In fact:
· About 70 % of U.S. adults have experienced
a severe traumatic event at least once in their
life and one out of five go on to develop symptoms
of PTSD
· Approximately 8% of all adults have suffered
from PTSD at any one time
· If you include children and teens, an estimated
5% of all Americans will develop PTSD during their
lifetime or more than 13 million people
· About one in 10 women will develop PTSD
symptoms during their lifetime or double the rate
for men because they are much more likely to be
victims of domestic violence, rape or abuse.
· Almost 17% of men and 13% of women have
experienced more than three traumatic events during
their life.
The Mind/Body Connection
Suffering traumatic stress can affect your emotions
as well as your body and the two are so connected
that it can be hard to tell the difference. For
instance, traumatic stress can cause you to lose
concentration, forget things, or have trouble sleeping.
It may be difficult to determine on your own whether
these symptoms are because you do not feel well
physically or because you are still upset. Traumatic
stress also can lead you to eat in unhealthy ways
or to eat foods that are not healthy, and those
eating patterns can affect how you sleep or how
your stomach feels. Stress can cause headaches,
but the pain from the headaches can also make your
stress worsen.
Because the body and the mind work in concert,
traumatic stress can cause a cycle that makes it
seem like the body and mind are working against
one another, worsening symptoms like pain and fatigue.
Coping with Traumatic Stress
There are things you can do to help yourself if
you have suffered traumatic stress as a result of
an event such as a school shooting.
- Give yourself time to heal. Anticipate that this
will be a difficult time in your life. Allow yourself
to mourn the losses you have experienced. Try to
be patient with changes in your emotional state.
- Ask for support from people who care about you
and who will listen and empathize with your situation.
But keep in mind that your typical support system
may be weakened if those who are close to you also
have experienced or witnessed the trauma.
- Communicate your experience in whatever ways feel
comfortable to you - such as by talking with family
or close friends, or keeping a diary.
- Find out about local support groups that often
are available such as for those who have suffered
from natural disasters. These can be especially
helpful for people with limited personal support
systems.
- Try to find groups led by appropriately trained
and experienced professionals such as psychologists.
Group discussion can help people realize that other
individuals in the same circumstances often have
similar reactions and emotions.
- Engage in healthy behaviors to enhance your ability
to cope with excessive stress. Eat well-balanced
meals and get plenty of rest. If you experience
ongoing difficulties with sleep, you may be able
to find some relief through relaxation techniques.
Avoid alcohol and drugs.
- Establish or reestablish routines such as eating
meals at regular times and following an exercise
program. This can be especially important when the
normal routines of daily life are disrupted. Even
if you are in a shelter and unable to return home,
establish routines that can bring comfort. Take
some time off from the demands of daily life by
pursuing hobbies or other enjoyable activities.
--Help those you can. Helping others, even during
your own time of distress, can give you a sense
of control and can make you feel better about yourself.
- Avoid major life decisions such as switching careers
or jobs if possible because these activities tend
to be highly stressful.
When Should I Seek Professional Help?
Many people are able to cope effectively with the
emotional and physical demands brought about by
a natural disaster by using their own support systems.
It is not unusual, however, to find that serious
problems persist and continue to interfere with
daily living. For example, some may feel overwhelming
nervousness or lingering sadness that adversely
affects job performance and interpersonal relationships.
Individuals with prolonged reactions that disrupt
their daily functioning should consult with a trained
and experienced mental health professional. Psychologists
and other appropriate mental health providers help
educate people about common responses to extreme
stress. These professionals work with individuals
affected by trauma to help them find constructive
ways of dealing with the emotional impact.
With children, continual and aggressive emotional
outbursts, serious problems at school, preoccupation
with the traumatic event, continued and extreme
withdrawal, and other signs of intense anxiety or
emotional difficulties all point to the need for
professional assistance. A qualified mental health
professional such as a psychologist can help such
children and their parents understand and deal with
thoughts, feelings and behaviors that result from
trauma.
APA is grateful to Paul J. Rosch, M.D.. President,
The American Institute of Stress, for his help in
developing this fact sheet.
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