STRESS REACTIONS   HOW TO COPE WITH A CRITICAL INCIDENT Your family (or you yourselves) may be reacting to the current emergency, which is obviously a critical incident - - an extraordinary, traumatic, event that can temporarily overwhelm a person mentally, physically, and /or emotionally. Even after the event is over, people may experience strong mental, emotional or physically reactions. It is very common and quite normal for people to experience emotional aftershocks when they have in some way witnessed or responded to a critical incident. Sometimes the reactions to critical incidents appear immediately during or after the critical incident.  Sometimes they appear a few hours or a few days later.  In some cases, weeks or months pass before such stress reactions appear.  The signs and symptoms of critical incident stress may last a few days, a few weeks, or a few months, and occasionally longer, depending on the severity of the critical incident .  With understanding and support from others, the stress reactions usually pass more quickly. Occasionally the experience of the critical incident is so painful that professional assistance from a counselor may be necessary.  This does not imply craziness or weakness. It simply indicates that the particular traumatic event was just too powerful for the individual to manage at this time in his/her life.

For Yourself	For Family Members and Friends
Try to rest a bit more	Listen carefully
Contact friends	Spend time with the traumatized person
Have someone stay with you for at least a few hours for period of a day or so	Offer your assistance and a listening ear even if they haven’t asked for help
Recurring thoughts, dreams, or flashbacks are normal.  Don’t try to fight them.  They will decrease over time and become less painful	Reassure them that they are safe.  Help them with every day tasks like cleaning, cooking, caring for the family, minding children.
Maintain as normal a schedule as possible.	Give them some private time
Eat well balanced and regular meals, even when you don’t feel like it.  Try to keep a reasonable level of activity. Fight against boredom. Reestablish your normal schedule as soon as possible.  Express your feelings as they arise.	Don’t take their angry personally. Don’t tell them they are lucky in wasn’t worse. Those statements do not console traumatized people.  Instead tell them you are sorry the event has occurred and that you want to understand and help them.
Talk to people who love you
Find a good counselor if the feelings become prolonged or too intense.

If the symptoms described above are severe or if they last longer then 6 weeks, the traumatized person may need professional  counseling. Contact a private practice psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker, or your local community mental health center for assistance finding professional counselors. Compliments of The Aspetuck Newtown Counseling Center, George C. Anderheggen, Ph.D., 755 Main Street, Bradford Green, Monroe, CT, Bldg. #2 (203) 452-0399