Trauma & Stress…
It is typical to experience traumatic stress following a disturbing event, whether it’s an accident, violent crime, terrorist attack, global pandemic, or a natural disaster like an earthquake, hurricane, or flood. You may feel intense shock, confusion, and fear or feel numb or overwhelmed by a host of conflicting emotions, sometimes all at once.
And these emotions aren’t limited to the people who experienced the event.
T.V. and social media coverage mean that we’re all bombarded with horrific images of tragedy, suffering, and loss almost immediately occurring anywhere in the world.
Repeated exposure can overwhelm your nervous system and create traumatic stress, just as if you experienced the event firsthand.
Traumatic stress could shatter your sense of security, leaving you feeling helpless and vulnerable in a dangerous world, especially if the traumatic event was man-made. You may feel physically and emotionally drained, overcome with grief, or find it difficult to focus, sleep, or control your temper. These are all normal responses to abnormal events.
Often, the unsettling thoughts and feelings of traumatic stress, as well as any unpleasant physical symptoms, start to fade as life gradually returns to normal over the days or weeks following a catastrophic event or crisis. But there’s also a lot you can do to assist in your recovery and better come to terms with the trauma you’ve experienced.
Whether you lived through the event, witnessed it, were an emergency responder or medical worker, or experienced traumatic stress in the aftermath, there are plenty of ways to calm your nervous system and regain your emotional balance.
For more on this topic ~ Source: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/ptsd-trauma/traumatic-stress.htm
Until next time,
Joan K., Counselor