Friday, April 14, 2006
What Happens to People After a Disaster
What Happens to People After a Disaster or Other Traumatic Event?
Note: Portions of this post were adapted from information provided by the National Center for PTSD. For more information visit www.ncptsd.va.gov
Have you ever felt so tense, discouraged, or angry that you were afraid you just couldn't cope; had an extremely stressful experience that you try not to think about, but it still continues to bother you or is repeated in nightmares; or felt constantly on guard or watchful, or been on edge or jumpy more than you really need to be? Have you ever had a family member who seemed troubled in these ways?
If so, this information is for you.
Trauma can cause severe stress, which may become unmanageable despite the best efforts of good stress management. Traumatic events cause severe stress reactions that are particularly hard to manage. Trauma involves a unique kind of physical/emotional shock that escalates the "fight-flight" stress response (feeling angry or scared) into "super-stress" (feeling terrified, stunned, horrified, like your life is passing before your eyes, or so overwhelmed you blank out).
If you have ever experienced or witnessed war, disaster, a terrible accident, sexual or physical abuse or assault, hate crime, kidnapping or hostage-taking, or life-threatening illnesses, you know the shock of trauma.
Traumatic stress can be managed, but special steps are necessary.
