From Shock to Healing

"Though I wasn't physically there, my mind instantly went to my colleagues and students. Were they safe? What was happening? As news trickled in, we learned that a man had fired more than 180 rounds from across the street from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), shattering windows and leaving CDC staff, Emory students and faculty, and parents, children, and teachers at the onsite daycare all sheltering in offices, classrooms, and cars. Officer David Rose lost his life responding to the scene."

"In the days after, colleagues and friends shared their experiences. They noted fear in the moment, then the rollercoaster of emotions that followed. They described shock, numbness, anxiety, panic, guilt, and anger. Some noticed racing hearts, nausea, jumpiness, trouble sleeping, or difficulty concentrating. Others shared the constant "What ifs" going through their head. Children showed changes too-clinginess, nightmares, withdrawal, and tears at drop-off."

An active shooter event prompted immediate fear, concern for others, and vivid accounts of sheltering and loss. Acute stress reactions commonly include shock, numbness, anxiety, panic, guilt, anger, racing heart, nausea, jumpiness, sleep problems, concentration difficulties, and intrusive "what if" thoughts. Children may become clingy, have nightmares, withdraw, or cry at drop-off. For many, symptoms subside as the nervous system recalibrates. When symptoms persist longer than a month and impair functioning, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) should be considered. Noticing and naming symptoms, seeking time and social support, maintaining routines and connection, and accessing evidence-based therapies aid recovery.

Read at Psychology Today