Individuals react to trauma in very different ways. If you have witnessed or been involved in a traumatic event, you may notice changes in how you feel (emotionally and physically), think and behave.
Emotional reactions
Emotional reactions may include:
- Feelings of numbness and unreality
- Fear / anxiety / loss of confidence
- Tearfulness
- Feeling low or depressed
- Sadness and feelings of loss
- Anger
- Guilt (feeling responsible for what happened, or survivor guilt at having survived if others did not)
Physical reactions
Physical reactions may include:
- A change in sleep patterns – sleeplessness or sleeping too much
- Feeling shaky
- Headaches
- Stomach upset
- Racing heart and rapid breathing
- Lack of interest in sex
- A change in appetite – not feeling like eating, or eating more than usual
Thinking
Thinking may be affected in some of the following ways:
- Poor concentration and memory
- Intrusive memories of what happened
- Nightmares or upsetting dreams
- Confusion or disorientation
- Difficulty making decisions
Behaviour
You may behave differently, for example:
- Avoiding places or actions associated with the trauma (eg not driving if you have been in a road accident)
- Being irritable with people close to you, or withdrawing from people
- Being over-cautious or hyper vigilant: concerned about your own safety and that of people close to you
These are all normal reactions to a traumatic event. They do not mean that you are going mad, coping badly, or not being ‘strong’ enough. Some people experience a number of these reactions, some only a few. Sometimes it can be hard to identify
what you are feeling; or you may find your mood changes quite rapidly. Some people are quite numb at first, and it takes a few days or even weeks for them to feel the impact of what has happened. To begin with, you may find it hard to get what you
have seen or experienced out of your head. Although this is very distressing, it is a natural response as your mind tries to make sense of what has occurred.
Occasionally a traumatic incident can bring back memories and feelings connected with an earlier loss or distressing experience. This is quite normal, although it may be confusing or frightening.
Your reactions to a traumatic event may initially be very strong and may make it difficult to get on with everyday life. For many people, however, the memories and feelings gradually become less intrusive over time.