These experiences usually occur within a couple of days of a traumatic event. They may continue for several weeks or longer depending on the situation, coping skills, presence of support and earlier life experiences.
Heightened sense of danger
Startle response, jumpiness, or hypervigilance
Anger/irritability/blaming
Nightmares
Isolation/withdrawal/alienation: “No one understands what I’m going through.”
Fear/anxiety
Sleep difficulties, trouble getting to sleep, staying asleep or sleeping too much
Flashbacks and intrusive thoughts
Emotional numbing
Difficulty problem solving, focusing, making decisions, poor judgment
Depression/Feeling helpless or hopeless
Suicidal thinking (immediate help should be sought)
Guilt
Grief/Sorrow/Remorse
Development of suspiciousness in dealing with others
Obsession with the incident- Thoughts of the incident are easily triggered- one seems stuck in the past and has difficulty looking toward the future
Family problems
Decline of work performance – increased absenteeism, burn-out, decline in productivity and quality of work
Feelings of insanity or loss of control
Sexual difficulties
Alcohol Abuse
Drug Abuse: prescription or illegal
Distress at exposure to events that resemble or symbolize the event
Avoidance of thoughts and emotions connected with the incident, or activities or situations that arouse memories of the trauma
Over reaction/under-reaction/risk taking
Children may act out
Children may cling more to their caregivers
Adolescents may become more defiant
These symptoms of a traumatic event may wax and wane. Triggers may generate a reoccurrence of any of these symptoms. Seek help by a trained trauma professional if your symptoms last longer than a month and are interfering with your day-to-day activities.
William P. Brennan, L.M.HC., C.A.P.
(386) 473-3290 Fax: (386) 672-9251
This information is taken from Jeffery Mitchell Ph.D. of the University of Maryland’s Emergency Health Services Program, Roger Solomon Ph.D. course titled Basic Critical Incident Stress Management and Team Development for EMDR Therapists, and the Red Cross.