Home

Clinic Locations

Programs and Services

Health Connection

Birth and Death Certificates

Request Records

Board of Health

Health Regulations

Public Health Alerts

Environmental Health

Food Establishment/Restaurant Inspections

Emergency Preparedness

Employment

Media

Coping with Disasters

Physical and emotional reactions often occur as a result of a natural emergency or traumatic event such as a terrorist attack. These reactions may happen immediately or weeks or months after an event. Traumatic stress reactions can happen to people of any age and can change a person's behavior, thoughts and physical health.

Common Responses

The physical effects caused by a traumatic event include:

• Rapid heartbeat
• Increased respiratory rate
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Muscle and joint aches
• Tremors
• Headaches

Seek medical attention if any of these symptoms persist.

Thoughts, behaviors and emotions may also change. These changes include:

• Flashbacks or re-experiencing the event
• Withdrawal from normal social relations
• Performance problems at work or school
• Loss or increase in appetite
• Difficulty sleeping or nightmares
• Feeling overwhelmed, hopeless, numb
• Being extremely anxious, fearful, agitated or irritable
• Feeling depressed
• Increased consumption of alcohol or prescribed, over-the-counter or illicit drugs

What You Can Do for Yourself

There are many things you can do to cope with traumatic events.

• Understand that your symptoms may be normal, especially right after the trauma.
• Keep to your usual routine.
• Take the time to resolve day-to-day conflicts so they do not add to your stress.
• Do not shy away from situations, people and places that remind you of the trauma.
• Find ways to relax and be kind to yourself.
• Turn to family, friends, and clergy for support, and talk about your experiences and feelings with them.
• Participate in leisure and recreational activities.
• Recognize that you cannot control everything.
• Recognize the need for trained help, and call a local mental health center.

What You Can Do for Your Child

• Let your child know that it is okay to feel upset when something bad or scary happens.
• Encourage your child to express feelings and thoughts, without making judgments.
• Return to daily routines.