You have experienced a traumatic event such as a death, injury, loss of a loved one or property, a serious threat, or an overwhelming emotional experience. You may now be experiencing, or may experience later, some strong emotional or physical reactions. It is very common, in fact quite normal, for people to experience emotional aftershocks when they have suffered through a horrible event.

The emotional aftershocks (or reactions) may appear immediately after the traumatic event, they may appear after few hours, a few days, or even weeks or months later. The signs and symptoms of a psychological or physiological reaction to a traumatic event may last a few days, a few weeks or even a few months and occasionally longer depending on the severity of the traumatic event. With the understanding and support of loved ones, the reactions usually pass more quickly.

Occasionally the traumatic events are so painful that professional assistance may be necessary. This does not imply weakness or craziness; it simply indicates that the event was too powerful for the person to manage by themselves.

Some common signs and symptoms of a reaction following a traumatic event include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Physical
  • Thinking
  • Emotional
  • Nausea
  • Slowed thinking
  • Anxiety
  • Upset stomach
  • Difficulty making decisions
  • Fear
  • Tremors
  • Difficulty in problem solving
  • Guilt
  • Feeling uncoordinated
  • Confusion
  • Depression
  • Profuse sweating
  • Disorientation (especially to place and time)
  • Sadness
  • Chills
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Feeling lost
  • Sleep Disturbance
  • Difficulty calculating
  • Feeling abandoned
  • Diarrhea
  • Memory problems
  • Feeling isolated
  • Dizziness
  • Difficulty naming common objects
  • Worrying about others
  • Chest pain (should be checked at hospital)
  • Seeing the event over and over
  • Wanting to limit contact with others
  • Rapid heart beat
  • Distressing dreams
  • Anger
  • Rapid Breathing
  • Poor attention span
  • Irritability
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Feeling numb
  • Headaches
  • Startled
  • Muscle aches
  • Shocked
  • Sleep disturbance

Helpful Hints

Trying some of the following may help to alleviate the emotional pain associated with a traumatic event.

For Yourself:

  • Try to rest a bit more
  • Contact friends
  • Have someone stay with you at least a few hours or periods for a day or so
  • Recurring thoughts, dreams or flashbacks are normal – don’t try to fight them they’ll decrease over time and become less painful
  • Maintain as normal a schedule as possible
  • Eat well-balanced and regular meals (even when you don’t feel like it)
  • Try to keep a reasonable level of activity
  • Fight against boredom
  • Re-establish a normal schedule as soon as possible
  • Express your feelings as they arise
  • Talk to people who love you
  • Find a good counsellor if the feelings become prolonged or too intense

For Family Members and Friends:

  • Listen carefully
  • Spend time with the traumatized person
  • Offer your assistance and a listening ear even if they have not asked for help
  • Reassure them that they are safe
  • Help them with everyday tasks like cleaning, cooking, caring for the family, or minding children
  • Give them some private time
  • Don’t tell them that they are “lucky it wasn’t worse; traumatized people are not consoled by these statements. Instead, tell them that you are sorry such an event has occurred, and you want to understand and assist them.

If the symptoms of a reaction are severe or last longer than six weeks, the traumatized person may need professional counseling.

Important Things to Remember when it comes to Critical Incident Responses

No one is immune to critical incident reactions, regardless of past experiences or years of service.

The signs of critical incident responses are physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioural. These responses can occur right at the scene, within hours, within days, or even within weeks.

Your loved one may experience a variety of signs/symptoms or he/she may not feel any of the signs at this time.

Suffering from physiological and psychological effects following a critical incident is completely normal. Your loved one is not the only one suffering; other people and co-workers shared the event and are probably sharing the reactions.

All phases of our lives overlap, and influence each other: personal, professional, family, etc. The impact of critical incident responses can be intensified, influenced, or mitigated by our own personal, family, and current developmental issues.

Encourage, but do not pressure, your loved one to talk about his/her reaction to the incident. Your primary job is to listen and reassure. Remember that if an event is upsetting to you and your loved one, your children may be affected also and they may need to talk.

You may not understand what your loved one is going through at this time, but offer your love and support. Don’t be afraid to ask what you can do that he/she would consider helpful.

Maintain or return to a normal routine as soon as possible.

If the signs of stress that your loved one is experiencing do not begin to subside within a few weeks, or if they intensify, consider seeking further assistance.