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a-z mental
health :
traumatic stress
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What
is a traumatic stress reaction? |
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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. |
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For professional assistance
with PTSD please call Wellnet on 084 944 9444 and a consultant
will refer you to a counselor in your area. |
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After
the death of my mother I felt completely exhausted and fatigued.
I also started to get a lot of headaches. Were these physical
reactions to traumatic stress? How do I know if I am experiencing
traumatic stress? |
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Anyone affected by the hurricanes
or other traumatic stress may experience: |
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• Fatigue
• Being easily startled
• Headaches
• Sweating
• Gastro-intestinal problems
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Emotional symptoms of traumatic
stress: |
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Those affected by traumatic stress
may feel: |
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• Fear
• Anger
• Guilt
• Anxiety
• Reduced awareness
• Feeling like you are numb or not part of the world
• Helplessness
• Hopelessness
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For professional assistance
with PTSD please call Wellnet on 084 944 9444 and a consultant
will refer you to a counselor in your area. |
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Four
months ago I witnessed a terrible car accident. I seemed to
have been coping just fine, but recently I started having
nightmares and flashbacks of that accident. What is the explanation
of this delayed reaction? |
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It is important for you to realize
that there is not one 'standard' pattern of reaction to the
extreme stress of traumatic experiences. Some people respond
immediately, while others have delayed reactions – sometimes
months or even years later. Some have adverse effects for a
long period of time, while others recover rather quickly. |
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And reactions can change over time.
Some who have suffered from trauma are energized initially by
the event to help them with the challenge of coping, only to
later become discouraged or depressed. |
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A number of factors tend
to affect the length of time required for recovery, including: |
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For professional assistance
with traumatic stress please call Wellnet on 084 944 9444 and
a consultant will refer you to a counselor in your area. |
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Last
year my wife was diagnosed with PTSD after experiencing a robbery
at her workplace. What exactly is Post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD)? |
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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. |
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Traumatic stress is not
uncommon. In fact: |
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Approximately
8% of all adults have suffered from PTSD at any one time.
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If you include children and
teens, an estimated 5% of all Americans will develop PTSD
during their lifetime or more than 13 million people. |
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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. |
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Almost 17% of men and 13%
of women have experienced more than three traumatic events
during their life. |
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For professional assistance
with PTSD please call Wellnet on 084 944 9444 and a consultant
will refer you to a counselor in your area. |
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I
am a police officer and as a result of my particular occupation
I am exposed to trauma on a daily basis. How does trauma exposure
affect my mind and body? |
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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. |
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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. |
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For professional assistance
with PTSD please call Wellnet on 084 944 9444 and a consultant
will refer you to a counselor in your area. |
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Managing
traumatic stress: tips for recovering from large-scale disasters |
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When a large-scale disaster affects
a community, the resulting trauma can reverberate even with
those not directly affected by the disaster. |
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Disasters of this type can be sudden
and overwhelming. In addition to the often catastrophic toll
on lives and property, a disaster like a flooding or a fire
in an informal settlement can have an impact on those who have
lost loved ones and even those who feel more vulnerable as a
result of learning about the disaster. |
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There are
a number of things that happen to people after experiencing
a traumatic event such as a large-scale disaster. Shock and
denial are typical responses to large-scale disasters, especially
shortly after the event. Both shock and denial are normal
protective reactions. Shock is a sudden and often intense
disturbance of your emotional state that may leave you feeling
stunned or dazed. Denial involves your not acknowledging that
something very stressful has happened, or not experiencing
fully the intensity of the event. You may temporarily feel
numb or disconnected from life. |
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For
professional assistance with traumatic stress please call Wellnet
on 084 944 9444 and a consultant will refer you to a counselor
in your area.
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Since
the fire that destroyed my entire community I have been an emotional
wreck. I feel like I am no longer in control of my life and
that death is just around the corner and could happen at any
time. How can I restore my emotional well-being and sense of
control following a large-scale disaster? |
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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. Take some time off from the demands of daily life
by pursuing hobbies or other enjoyable activities.
Avoid major life decisions
such as switching careers or jobs if possible because these
activities tend to be highly stressful.
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For professional assistance
with traumatic stress please call Wellnet on 084 944 9444 and
a consultant will refer you to a counselor in your area. |
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My
children seem to have been most affected by the flood. What
can I do to help them? How can I alleviate their emotional
responses to the trauma they experienced? |
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The intense anxiety and fear that
often follow a disaster can be especially troubling for surviving
children, especially if children were victims of the disaster.
Some may regress and demonstrate younger behaviors such as thumb
sucking or bed-wetting. Children may be more prone to nightmares
and fear of sleeping alone. Performance in school may suffer.
Other changes in behavior patterns may include throwing tantrums
more frequently, or withdrawing and becoming more solitary.
There is however a number of steps parents and others who care
for children can take in order to alleviate the emotional consequences
of trauma in children. These steps include: |
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Spending more
time with children and letting them be more dependent
on you during the months following the trauma - for example,
allowing your child to cling to you more often than usual.
Physical affection is very comforting to children who
have experienced trauma. |
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Providing play experiences
to help relieve tension. Younger children in particular
may find it easier to share their ideas and feelings about
the event through non-verbal activities such as drawing. |
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Encouraging older children
to speak with you, and with one another, about their thoughts
and feelings. This helps reduce their confusion and anxiety
related to the trauma. Respond to questions in terms they
can comprehend. Reassure them repeatedly that you care
about them and that you understand their fears and concerns. |
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Reducing the number of times
children see the trauma on the news. Repeatedly watching
broadcasts of the disaster can re-traumatize children. |
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Keeping regular schedules
for activities such as eating, playing and going to bed
to help restore a sense of security and normalcy. |
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For professional assistance
with traumatic stress please call Wellnet on 084 944 9444 and
a consultant will refer you to a counselor in your area. |
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What
can people struggling to cope with a large-scale disaster from
afar do to help themselves? |
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Even if you were not in the actual
disaster, you may experience a sense of vulnerability from witnessing
the results of the disaster. |
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Take a news break.
Watching endless replays of footage from the disaster
can make your stress even greater. Although you'll want
to keep informed - especially if you have loved ones affected
by the disaster - take a break from watching the news. |
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Be kind to yourself. Some
feelings when witnessing a disaster may be difficult for
you to accept. You may feel relief that the disaster did
not touch you, or you may feel guilt that you were left
untouched when so many were affected. Both feelings are
normal. |
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Keep things in perspective.
Although a disaster often is horrifying, you should focus
as well on the things that are good in your life. |
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Find a productive way to
help if you can. Many organizations are set up to provide
financial or other aid to victims of natural disasters.
Contributing can be a way to gain some “control”
over the event. |
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Look for opportunities for
self-discovery. People often learn something about themselves
and may find that they have grown in some respect as a
result of persevering through hardship. Many people who
have experienced tragedy and adversity have reported better
relationships, greater sense of personal strength even
while feeling vulnerable, increased sense of self-worth,
deeper spirituality, and heightened appreciation for life. |
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For
professional assistance with traumatic stress please call
Wellnet on 084 944 9444 and a consultant will refer you to
a counselor in your area. |
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I
can no longer cope with what I went through. I feel overwhelmed
by my experience. Should I seek professional help for my traumatic
stress? |
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Many people are able to cope
effectively with the emotional and physical demands brought
about by a large-scale 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.
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For professional assistance
with PTSD please call Wellnet on 084 944 9444 and a consultant
will refer you to a counselor in your area. |
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I
am currently experiencing traumatic stress but cannot afford
professional help. What can I do to help myself cope more effectively
with the traumatic stress? |
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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. |
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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. |
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Avoid major life decisions
such as switching careers or jobs if possible because
these activities tend to be highly stressful. |
| • |
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. |
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For professional assistance
with PTSD please call Wellnet on 084 944 9444 and a consultant
will refer you to a counselor in your area. |
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