Common Reactions to Traumatic Stress
Below are some common reactions and symptoms that can occur as an effect of experiencing trauma. Please keep in mind that everyone reacts and grieves differently, it’s okay if you don’t fall under these common reactions. Also remember that if you need extra support to be able to process and get through these emotions there are resources that can help you, look under the Behavioral Health Resources
Physical(Body)
Chills, thirst, fatigue, nausea, fainting, twitches, vomiting, dizziness, weakness, chest pain, headaches, elevated bp, rapid heart rate, muscle tremors, shock, symptoms, grinding of teeth, visual difficulties, profuse sweating, difficulty breathing etc…
*it's common for people to get sick after the passing of a loved one
Cognitive(Thinking)
confusion, nightmares, uncertainty, hyper-vigilance, suspiciousness, intrusive images, blaming someone, poor problem solving, poor abstract thinking, poor attention/decisions, poor concentration/ memory, disorientation of time (place or person), difficulty identifying objects or people, heightened or lowered alertness, increased or decreased awareness of surroundings etc…
Emotional(feelings)
fear of guilt, grief, panic, denial, anxiety, agitation, irritability, depression, intense anger, apprehension, emotional shock, emotional outbursts, feeling overwhelmed, loss of emotional control, inappropriate emotional response etc…
Behavioral(actions)
withdrawal, antisocial acts, inability to rest, intensified pacing, erratic movements, change in social activity, change in speech patterns, loss or increase of appetite, hyper-alert to environment, increased alcohol consumption, change in usual communications
Kids:
Many times death can be confusing and unfamiliar to children, so responses will vary based on age group and experience. One of the hardest parts for kids can be processing and controlling their emotions that might be heightened or even new.
Infant to 2 years
Sleeping/eating disturbance
Fussiness, whining
Clinginess
Sense of change
2 to 5 years
Sleeping/eating disturbance
Regressive behaviors
Death/traumatic experience seen as reversible, not permanent
Brief, intense responses
Fearful
Clinginess
5 to 8 years
Magical thinking – child’s words or actions caused the traumatic event
Death seen as reversible, not permanent
Repetitive questioning
Nightmares
Aggressive behaviors
The child worries who will take care of him or her
9 to 12 years
Understand the finality of death
Joking inappropriately about death/traumatic event
Want complete details – morbid curiosity
Aggressive behaviors
Problems in school – changes in grades and/or behaviors
13 to 18 years
Similar to adults, but fewer coping skills
Risk-taking behavior – behaves impulsively
Delayed grief work
May prefer to talk with people outside the family
Depression, anger, guilt
Problems in school – changes in grades and/or behaviors
May assume the role of the deceased
*remember that everyone reacts and grieves differently.