Within the First 24 – 48 Hours
- Periods of physical activity (based on your physical condition and physical limitation), alternated with relaxation will alleviate some of the physical reaction.
- Structure you time – keep busy
- You’re normal and having normal reaction – don’t label yourself crazy.
- Talk to people – talk is the most healing medicine.
- Be aware of numbing the pain with overuse of drugs or alcohol, you don’t need to complicate this with a substance abuse problem.
- Reach out – people do care.
- Maintain as normal a schedule as possible.
- Spend time with others.
- Help your co-workers as much as possible by sharing feelings and checking out how they are doing.
- Give yourself permission to feel rotten and share your feeling with others.
- Keep a journal; write your way through the sleepless hours.
- Do things that feel good to you.
- Realize those around you are under stress.
- Don’t make any big life changes.
- Do make as many daily decisions as possible which will give you a feeling of control over your life, if someone asks you what to eat – answer them even if you’re not sure.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Reoccurring thoughts, dreams or flashbacks are normal – do not try to fight them – the will decrease over time and become less painful.
- Eat well-balanced and regular meals (even if you don’t feel like it).
Here are some very common signs and signals of a stress reaction:
Physical
Fatigue
Nausea
Muscle tremors
Twitches
Chest pain*
Difficulty breathing*
Elevated BP
Headaches
Thirst
Visual difficulties
Grinding of teeth
Weakness
Dizziness
Profuse sweating
Chills
Shock symptoms*
Vomiting
Fainting
Emotional
Anxiety
Guilt
Grief
Denial
Severe panic (rare)
Emotional shock
Fear
Uncertainty
Loss of emotional control/depression
Inappropriate emotional response
Agitation
Apprehension
Feeling overwhelmed
Intense anger
Etc…
Cognitive
Confusion, disorientation
Poor attitude
Poor decision making
Heightened or lowered alertness
Poor concentration memory
Problems hyper vigilance
Difficulty identifying familiar objects or people
Rapid heart rate
Increased or decreases awareness surroundings
Poor problem solving
Poor abstract thinking
Loss of time, place or person, orientation
Disturbed thinking, nightmares, intrusive images
Spiritual
Anger at God, Allah, higher power
Loss of religious or spiritual faith
Questioning ability to forgive/be forgiven
Change in sense of self
Behavioral
Change in society
Change in speech patterns
Loss or increase of appetite
Withdrawal
Emotional outbursts
Suspiciousness
Change in usual communication skills
Pacing
Startle reflex
Hyper alert to environment
Alcohol consumption
Inability to rest
Antisocial acts
Nonspecific bodily complaints
Erratic movements
Change in sexual functioning
*definite indication of the need for medical evaluation