Whether it is a traffic accident, plane crash, violent crime, terrorist attack, global pandemic, or natural disaster like an earthquake, hurricane, or flood, experiencing traumatic stress is common. You might experience intense shock, confusion, and fear, as well as feelings of numbness or overwhelm brought on by a slew of opposing feelings, sometimes all at once. Additionally, these feelings extend beyond those who were directly affected by the incident. We are all inundated with horrific images of calamity, suffering, and loss almost immediately after they occur anywhere in the world due to the 24/7 coverage provided by the news and social media. As if you had been there, repeated exposure can cause traumatic stress and overwhelm your nervous system.
If the traumatic event was caused by someone else, like a shooting or an act of terrorism, trauma can shatter your sense of security, leaving you feeling helpless and vulnerable in a dangerous world. You might feel genuinely and sincerely depleted, suffering from extreme melancholy, or find it hard to concentrate, rest, or remain calm. All these responses to abnormal events are typical.
As life gradually returns to normal in the days or weeks following a catastrophic event or crisis, the unsettling thoughts and feelings of traumatic stress—along with any unpleasant physical symptoms—often begin to fade. However, there are also a lot of things you can do to help you recover and deal with the trauma better. There are a lot of ways to calm your nervous system and regain your emotional equilibrium, whether you lived through the event, witnessed it, worked as an emergency responder or medical professional, or suffered from traumatic stress in the aftermath.
Managing traumatic stress
- Just as it can take time to clean up after a disaster or traumatic event and fix the damage, it can also take time to regain emotional equilibrium and rebuild your life. However, there are specific actions you can take to support yourself and those you care about in overcoming the emotional effects of trauma and moving on with your life.
- Keep in mind that there is no “correct” or “wrong” way to feel. Trauma affects people in different ways, so don’t tell yourself or anyone else what to think, feel, or do.
- It will only stifle your recovery if you ignore your feelings. Although avoiding your feelings may appear preferable at the time, they continue to exist regardless of whether you are paying attention to them. If you just allow yourself to feel what you feel, even the most intense emotions will pass.
- Avoid reliving the traumatic event over and over again. It can be difficult to think clearly when you think or watch horrifying images over and over again. Engage in mind-numbing activities like reading, watching a movie, cooking, or playing with your kids so that you don’t focus solely on the traumatic event.
- Restart your routine. The familiar is reassuring. Getting back to your normal routine as much as possible after a disaster will help you reduce traumatic stress, anxiety, and hopelessness. You can organize your day so that you have regular time for eating, sleeping, spending time with family, and relaxing, even if your work or school routine is disrupted.
- Put off major life decisions. When you are traumatized, making significant life decisions about your family, work, or home will only make your life more stressful. Try to wait until life has calmed down, you’ve regained emotional equilibrium, and you can think more clearly.
Conclusion
In the same way it takes time to clean up after a disaster or traumatic event and fix the damage, it can also take time to regain emotional equilibrium and rebuild your life after such an event.
The key is to stay calm and composed, and to seek medical help.
And if you seek any help regarding your health, then contact me right away!
