What are some possible emotional and physical reactions to a traumatic event?
Psychological distress – Some people may feel sadness, fear, anxiety, anger, horror, and grief. Numbness – Some people may initially be in shock and feel detached and in disbelief about the event. Depression – Some people may feel a more pervasive sense of sadness over time. They may lose interest in their usual activities and have difficulty concentrating. They may also have crying spells and develop a sense of helplessness and pessimism. Confusion – Some people have very intense feelings, but they can’t identify them or put them into words. Re-experiencing the Event – Some people may have flashbacks and intrusive thoughts about the event. Often, people find these thoughts to be disturbing and/or frightening. Nightmares – Some people may have bad dreams about the event or other nightmares that represent the trauma. They may have difficulty staying asleep, they may eventually avoid going to sleep, or they may want to sleep with the light on. Physical Reactions – Some people may experie
