Terrorism / Trauma Response

Coping With A Traumatic Event

A traumatic event produces a stress response like that of a major loss. Common emotional reactions include:

  • Shock or numbness

  • Fear and anxiety attacks

  • A sense of helplessness

  • Anger or rage

  • Depression and grief

  • Feeling unsafe or vulnerable 

These emotional responses can cause physical symptoms, such as:

  • Dizziness

  • Weakness or fatigue

  • Muscle tension

  • Headaches

  • Changes in appetite & sleep

  • Nausea or stomach upset

The following are ways to help assist you and your family in coping a traumatic event:

  • Share your thoughts and feelings with others. It helps to talk about it.

  • Take care of yourself by getting enough rest, eating well, and exercising.

  • Limit exposure to media of the traumatic event. Balance the amount of repeated information that is watched or listened to of the traumatic event.

  • Let others know what you need from them. In time of trauma let others know what may or may not be helpful.

  • Expect that this trauma may remind you of other past traumas or losses. 

  • Refrain from alcohol, or non- prescribed drugs, or other unhealthy ways of coping

  • Give yourself time to heal. Responses to trauma are very diverse and we all take different times to recover. 

  • Seek professional help at once if you have trouble with depression, expressing your feelings, and experience homicidal or suicidal ideation.


Talking To Our Children About A Traumatic Event

Providing answers to our children when tragedy strikes involves a balance between helping the child feel safe and acknowledging the existence of violence, evil and danger in our world.

The following steps can be helpful when talking to children:

  • Make Sure Your Emotions are Under Control: Prepare yourself to focus on the child not your own emotions over the situation.
  • Consider Limiting Their Access to Media: Monitor TV footage of victims of the tragedy or repetition of the traumatic event.
  • Encourage Your Child to Express Feelings: Listen and don’t jump to “make it better.”
  • Be Ready to Provide Some Possible “Why’s”: We don’t know “why”, but we can educate our children about political and religious fanaticism and the inappropriate use of violence to “send a message.”
  • Be Honest: There are “evil” people in the world who do “very bad” things, but also tell your child that most people are not evil and would not do such a thing.
  • Reassure Your Child: On the whole he or she lives in a safe place.
  • Don’t Provide False Assurance: Instead of saying “Nothing like this will ever happen to you,” let your child know “I am here to protect you and keep you safe.”
  • Be a Role Model: Be aware that your own reactions will have a big impact on your child and how they react.
  • Monitor Your Childs Behavior: If there is a prolonged pattern of unusual or abnormal behavior, seek profession advice.

Consider Seeking Professional Advice: REACH your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is here to help you and your child deal with the tragedy. 

Call REACH for further free and confidential counseling assistance.

REACH Employee Assistance, Inc.
1-800-273-5273

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