Resources

 After a trauma, people go through a wide range of normal responses. Such reactions are  experienced not only by people who were involved in the trauma first-hand, but  sometimes by those who have either witnessed or heard about or have had different kinds  of involvement with the persons immediately affected. Many reactions tend to be  triggered by persons, places, or things associated with the trauma. Some reactions may  appear totally unrelated. These are NORMAL reactions to ABNORMAL events. Here is  a list of common physical and emotional reactions to trauma: Physical Reactions: • Aches and pains like headaches, backaches, stomach aches • Sudden sweating and/or heart palpitations • Changes in sleep patterns, appetite • Constipation or diarrhea • Easily startled by noises or unexpected touch • Increased use of alcohol, drugs or food Emotional Reactions: • Shock and disbelief • Fear and or anxiety • Grief, disorientation, denial • Hyper alertness or hypervigilence • Irritability, restlessness, outbursts or rage or anger • Emotional mood swings • Worrying or ruminating • Nightmares • Flashbacks – feeling like the trauma is happening now • Tendency to isolate • Feelings of detachment • Feelings of self-blame or survival guilt • Diminished interest in everyday activities • Expectation of doom and fear of the future • Difficulty concentrating or remembering The reaction to trauma can often last longer than a person expects – it may take weeks,  months and is some cases years to regain the previous level of functioning.  Trauma Recovery Tips: Children are especially vulnerable to the trauma and unforgettable images from tragedy.  Parents and other adults should respond with sensitivity and appropriately to help  children feel physically and emotionally safe. Children under the age of five won’t fully  understand what has happened, but will pick up on the reactions of those around them  and act accordingly. Adolescents will respond much the same as adults. The following  tips will help provide a supportive and stable environment: • Be Calm. Children mirror the reactions of their parents and other adults. It is  fine to share you feelings of sorrow, however, express your more intense  reactions only with other adults outside the presence of children. • Tell the truth but don’t give more information than is requested. Allow  children to ask questions, listen carefully and thoroughly, and then answer them.  Don’t be surprised if a child asks a question and then asks it again later. Kids  tend to deal with trauma in small segments – never force a child to talk about it  if he or she doesn’t want to.  • Limit television/radio/internet exposure. Children should never be exposed  to any terrifying imagery by themselves and this expose should be greatly  limited or preferably eliminated completely. • Recognize that some younger children will reenact what they hear. If you  see a child reenacting what they have heard about try to get them to talk with  you about it. This helps them to work through and resolve the trauma for  themselves.  • Some children may regress for a while. Children may temporarily have  problems with sleeping; toilet training; doing daily living activities that they  previously had mastered. Children need your support and encouragement  during this time – do not punish them for these setbacks.  • Keep a normal routine. Do not change your typical routine if at all possible.  Children often find comfort in the routine of doing things the same way. • Reassure children that they are safe and their feelings are normal.  Reassure children that they are safe and loved and that people are doing  everything possible to make this a safer world. Don’t try to change their  feelings or say how they should feel. Let them know that you will not judge,  tease or make fun of them about what they tell you. Be on the lookout for any problems that may be more serious. If you have any questions  or would like to talk to staff of Tidewater Pastoral Counseling call 623-2700. 

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