Dealing with the after effects of traumatic events

Traumatic events

A traumatic event is an event that is experienced as shocking and painful, causing a stress level beyond what we normally tolerate. Events like these usually happen all of a sudden and beyond one’s control, and often of the type that might put human lives in danger, for example the sudden death of a loved family member, a rape, a miscarriage, traffic accident, an earthquake, fire a flood and also a boom blast like the ones happening in Indonesia recently, among others. The stress reaction that a person experiences after these events is called traumatic stress, or often simply called trauma.

Sign of traumatic stress

These are a number of sign that tell whether a person is experiencing traumatic stress. Remember the people might react differently to any kind of circumstances. So it’s entirely possible for people to actually suffer from trauma even though they don’t show all of the following symptoms:

1. Repeated memory of the events, or more precisely images repeating themselves over and over in the person’s mind. For some people, it might seem as if the tragedy is happening all over again. They might also feel distressed if faced with anything that might remind them of the event, for instance something that they see, hear, feel, smell, or sense on the skin.
2. Difficulty controlling emotions, especially in relation with the overwhelming experience.
3. Reaction that was not typical of the person before the traumatic event, such as becoming easily sad, or easily angry, wanting to cry.
4. A tendency to isolate oneself from others and avoid getting out of the house as often as before .
5. Nervousness and anxiety .
6. Intense alertness and an overprotective attitude toward oneself and loved ones.
7. Having difficulty sleeping and having nightmare.
Eating problems (appetite loss or increase)
Inability to concentrate.