Feelings of Stress Normal

Feelings of Stress Normal, Pros Say

Richmond Times-Dispatch - September 16, 2001

All Americans, even those not directly involved, are vulnerable to extreme psychological stress in response to this week's terrorist attacks.

Feelings of numbness, shock, sadness and anger are normal reactions to traumas of this scale. For some people, the anxiety may develop into a full-blown disorder known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD.

"Most people handle stress well and will be OK," said Dr. Joel Silverman, chairman of the psychiatry department at Virginia Commonwealth University's Medical College of Virginia.

The intense emotions that many people now feel will dissipate over time. Some people, however, even if they are far from the disaster, may continue to feel distress for a long time. That signals a more serious problem

"You don't have to be an actual participant in trauma in order to experience post-traumatic stress," said Dr. Russell Kormann, associate director of the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Program at Rutgers University's Anxiety Disorder Clinic.

"Sitting in front of the TV 24 hours a day, as we all are, watching reports of horrific footage, it's understandable that people would have strong emotional reactions."

PTSD, also known as shell shock or battle fatigue, was first brought to public attention by war veterans but can result from any severe traumatic experience. It is characterized by debilitating symptoms such as sleeplessness, panic attacks, deadened emotions and vivid flashbacks of the traumatic event that persist for at least a month.

"It's not just remembering, but re-experiencing the trauma as if it is happening for the first time," Kormann said. "If symptoms are interfering with your ability to conduct your daily business, that's when it becomes a serious problem."

Several factors may make some people more vulnerable to PTSD than others, including past traumas such as childhood abuse, mental illness or drug abuse problems, and a lack of friends and family to turn to for help.

People can take action to cope with this emotional stress. Reaching out to friends and family is of primary importance, said Silverman, who talked with his children in Philadelphia by phone immediately after the attack. "Just hearing from them, I felt better."

Feelings of helplessness can be overcome by positive activity, such as volunteering in the community. Exercise can help the body cope with stress. Dealing with intense feelings by using alcohol or drugs should be avoided.

Recognizing the horrible nature of what has happened is also important to healing.

"Give credit to the trauma," said Kormann. "The trauma was horrific."

Just because emotional reactions may be extreme, "that does not make them unreasonable feelings. In fact, they are very reasonable feelings,” he said.

Seek professional help if coping strategies don't seem to be helping and symptoms worsen over time, interfering with everyday functioning, he advised.

A wide variety of treatments for PTSD is available, including both medications and counseling.

"I want to stress the fact that treatment is effective," said Silverman. "But we can't help people if they don't come and see us."

Positive psychological effects can rise out of extreme traumas, he added.

"It can help people come together, put aside jealousies and minor disagreements," Silverman said, "and help people focus on things that are much more significant, such as loving each other."

How to cope

*reach out to family, loved ones, members of your religious community

*talk about your feelings

*volunteer in your community

Symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder:

*panic attacks

*nightmares

*fear of losing control or going crazy

*symptoms that persist for at least one month

When to seek professional help:

*coping strategies don't help

*you can't function in daily life

*symptoms don't improve over time

For more information:

American Psychological Association
http://www.helping.apa.org/daily/traumaticstress.html

National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
http://www.ncptsd.org/disaster.html

Anxiety Disorders Association of America
http://www.adaa.org/

Back