Post Traumatic Event
Dan
I got this from work during the California fires. Hope it helps someone.
--------
Taking Care of Yourself After a Traumatic Event
If you have been through a traumatic event -- for example, a natural
disaster, sudden loss, or frightening exposure to violence -- you may
experience emotional reactions for weeks or even months afterwards.
Although many stress reactions diminish fairly quickly, others may last
longer than you expect. It?s important to take care of yourself and to
remember that resources are available to help.
Common reactions
People respond to trauma in different ways, depending on their
personalities and previous experiences. Some of the more common reactions
to trauma include:
- flashbacks and disturbing memories about what has happened
- feelings of numbness or detachment
- bad dreams and difficulty sleeping
- feelings of sadness and grief
- feelings of anxiety, fear, guilt, and powerlessness
- feelings of anger and irritability
- tiredness
- changes in appetite
- difficulty concentrating
Helping yourself
After a traumatic event, it's important to:
- Acknowledge your emotions. Many people find it helps to talk with others
about their experience. Others find that they need time for quiet, private
reflection on their feelings. Don't be hard on yourself for feeling the
way you do.
- Take care of your health. Make a point of eating well-balanced meals and
getting some exercise, even if it's just a walk around the block. If you
don't have the appetite for ordinary meals, try eating smaller nutritious
snacks through the day. Limit or avoid alcohol and caffeine, but drink
plenty of water -- stress can sometimes lead to dehydration.
Overview
Help in understanding emotional reactions to traumatic events and
tragedies, including frightening emergencies and sudden losses, with
suggestions about coping and getting help.
- Common reactions
- Helping yourself
- If reactions persist
- Get rest. This can be hard if you are taking care of others, but it's
important.
- Closing your eyes and practicing deep-breathing for even five to ten
minutes twice a day can help.
- Be careful when you are cooking, driving, and working. Accidents are
more likely to happen when people are distracted by stress.
It can also be a good idea to:
- Write down your thoughts. Many people find it reduces their anxiety to
keep a journal of their feelings. This can be especially helpful if you?re
having difficulty sleeping.
- Spend time with others. Isolation can make many people who are feeling
bad feel even worse.
- Maintain rituals that are relaxing and fulfilling. If you always enjoy
playing cards on Thursday night, try to find a way to get a game together.
If you read aloud to your family every evening, try to continue if
possible.
- Reduce other stress in your life. Try to avoid making big life changes
if you can. Eliminate non-essential activities where you can, especially
those that you don't enjoy.
If reactions persist
Sometimes reactions to a trauma are so severe that they last long after
the event and make it hard to get back to everyday life. Left untreated
these reactions can also affect your physical well-being. If you have
persistent problems with any of the following, it's important to get
expert help:
- sleep difficulties or bad dreams
- memories and flashbacks of the event that interrupt your everyday life
- withdrawal from activities that you once enjoyed
- feelings of anger, sadness, or mood swings
- difficulty with personal relationships
Many professionals, including psychologists, psychiatrists, and social
workers, specialize in helping people who have undergone a traumatic
event. Some people find that joining a support group of people who have
been through a similar trauma can be helpful; others prefer one-on-one
conversations. If available, you can call your company?s employee
assistance program (EAP) for help and referrals.
If you are experiencing physical reactions to stress, like headaches,
heart palpitations or chest pains, dizziness, or difficulty breathing,
it's important to see a medical doctor.
1999, 2004 Ceridian Corporation. All rights reserved.
This article is an example of the information offered through Ceridian's
Work Life and EAP Services. Ceridian is making the article available as a
public service. It may be copied and distributed to anyone affected by a
large-scale tragedy.