Responses to traumatic events

Responses to traumatic events
Following tragedies such as these, people may experience their own difficult reactions, even though we may not have any direct connection to the event. No right or wrong reaction exists and reactions will vary by individual and past experiences. Typical responses to traumatic events may include the following:
- Physical reactions: fatigue, dizziness, rapid heart rate, sweating, difficulty breathing, weakness, and nausea.
- Cognitive reactions: confusion, nightmares, hypervigilance, blaming, poor attention/concentration, suspiciousness, and intrusive thoughts.
- Emotional reactions: fear, guilt, panic, agitation, irritability, anger, shock, anxiety, denial, and grief.
- Behavioral reactions: withdrawal, alcohol consumption, strong emotional reactions, change in appetite, change in activity, change in sexual functioning, and inability to rest.
During times of healing
With time, many of these reactions will abate. During times of healing, the following may help:
- Talk with others whom you trust about your reactions;
- Eat well, exercise, and rest as well as you can;
- Limit the amount of media coverage you watch if you feel flooded or overwhelmed by the news;
- Recognize that your reactions are normal and that the symptoms will improve with time.


Make time for students to talk

We suggest that you make time for students to talk. Taking the time will make classes run smoother because students should be able to concentrate better after sharing reactions. To open the dialogue, you might say, "I am still shaken by the events at VTU, I wonder how others are feeling."

Give time for students to respond, at least 30 seconds. Many students take time to process and may need to find the courage to talk about an emotional event.

Respond affirmatively to students by making statements such as, "I am glad you shared." "I imagine you are not alone with that reaction." "It must hurt to think about the event that way."
Normalize their reactions by sharing that they are responding to an event that overrides their ability to rationalize or make sense of it. "I understand why you are reacting in this way, this event is incomprehensible."

Ask the students what would be helpful (e.g., sending a card to faculty/students at VTU in a similar department or taking a moment of silence).

If you think a student would benefit from discussing these events with a counselor, tell students they are welcome to come in and speak with someone in a confidential setting. "I am aware that your past situation may be contributing to the difficulty you are having and it may be helpful to talk with someone at the Counseling Center about these concerns. They are located at C-36 Clark Building and their hours are from 8-5 Monday through Friday."