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Trauma
Warning Signs
(last
updated March 2009)
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Warning
Signs of Trauma-Related Stress
(courtesy of the American
Psychological Association and the
American
Red Cross)
Disasters
affect people in many ways. In some disaster situations
it may mean loss of loved ones, including relatives, friends,
neighbors, or family pets. In others, it means loss of home
and property, furnishings, and important or cherished belongings.
Sometimes it means starting over with a new home or business.
Individuals
who have experienced a traumatic event oftentimes suffer
psychological stress related to the incident. In most instances,
these are normal reactions to abnormal situations. Individuals
who feel they are unable to regain control of their lives,
or who experience the following symptoms for more than a
month, should consider seeking outside professional mental
health assistance
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If you live near Halifax,
you may wish to consult with one of our trauma therapists.
Visit our Therapy Page for more
information.
If you live outside the
Halifax area, you may wish to consult the extensive information on therapy
and therapists in North America on our Find
a Therapist Page.
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Are
you, or is somebody you know, experiencing these symptoms?
Find out more about Posttraumaitc Stress Disorder in our
Information Pages.
All
About PTSD
PTSD
Recognition
PTSD
and Motor Vehicle Accidents
PTSD
and Trauma
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responses to a disaster may include the following:
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Fear
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Disbelief
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Reluctance to abandon property
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Disorientation and numbing
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Difficulty in making decisions
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Need for information
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Seeking help for yourself and your family
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Recurring thoughts or nightmares about the event.
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Having trouble sleeping or changes in appetite.
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Experiencing anxiety and fear, especially when
exposed to events or situations reminiscent of
the trauma.
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Being on edge, being easily startled or becoming
overly alert.
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Feeling depressed, sad and having low energy.
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Experiencing memory problems including difficulty
in remembering aspects of the trauma.
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Feeling "scattered" and unable to focus
on work or daily activities. Having difficulty
making decisions.
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Feeling irritable, easily agitated, or angry and
resentful.
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Feeling emotionally "numb," withdrawn,
disconnected or different from others.
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Spontaneously crying, feeling a sense of despair
and hopelessness.
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Feeling extremely protective of, or fearful for,
the safety of loved ones.
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Not being able to face certain aspects of the
trauma, and avoiding activities, places, or even
people that remind you of the event.
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Many of these signs may persist, and new
ones may develop. For full information on Traumatic experiences
and their effects, visit our pages on The Aftermath of Trauma and Trauma
and Children
APA
and GPS gratefully acknowledge Richard Tanenbaurn, Ph. D,
Deborah DeWolfe PhD., and Anne Marie Albano, Ph.D., for their
contributions to this fact sheet.
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We welcome inquiries
492-2546
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