When a Crisis Happens
You may experience some of these reactions whether you were affected directly or indirectly:
| Physical |
- Headaches
- Sleep problems
- Dizziness
- Muscle aches
- Nausea
- Tremors in lips & hands
- Upset Stomach
- Increased blood pressure
- Diarrhoea
- Rapid heart beat
- Loss of appetite
- Rapid breathing
- Feeling uncoordinated
- Profuse sweating
- Easily startled
|
| Mental |
- Confusion
- Disturbing dreams
- Disorientation
- Slowed thinking
- Difficulty with:
- decision making
- problem solving
- concentration
- naming objects
- poor attention span
- memory problems
- intrusive thoughts
- reliving the event
|
| Emotional |
- Worry about others
- Guilt
- Grief & loss
- Anger
- Withdrawal
- Anxiety
- Shame
- Depression
- Irritability
- Feeling:
- abandoned
- isolated
- shocked
- numb
|
Remember these responses are COMMON reactions to an UNCOMMON situation.
Coping with Reactions Following a Crisis
Sometimes the symptoms appear a few hours or days after the event. In other instances, the symptoms may not appear for weeks or months. Professional counselling can assist people in their recovery.
Coping Tips
The following is a list of tips that may help to minimise the stress reaction:
- talk to people to whom you feel close
- try to express your feeling as they occur
- keep in touch with friends
- ask someone to keep you company
- try to rest more than usual
- eat regular and nutritious meals even when you have no appetite
- keep to your normal schedule as much as possible
- maintain regular physical exercise (even a walk can be helpful)
- allow time for the dreams, recurring thoughts and flashbacks of the event to become less frequent and painful seek professional help, particularly if the feelings are prolonged, persistent or too intense
Contact numbers are as follows:
- Sally Trembath-Hastings (Clayton) – extension 53156
- Suzanne Wolf (Caulfield) – extension 32500
- Andrew Marks (Berwick) – extension 47019
- Wendy McKeown(Gippsland) – extension 26425
- Andrew Fitzpatrick (Parkville) – extension 39689
- Sue Newman (Peninsula) extension 44223
If someone you know has been affected you can help by:
- spending time with the person
- listening attentively to what s/he says
- offering help and support without waiting to be asked
- reassuring the person of their safety
- giving the person space and private time
- assisting with tasks of daily living: cooking, shopping, cleaning and family matters
Remember, people recover at the own pace. Be patient and understanding.
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