Have you recently experienced a traumatic event?
Stress is an important ingredient in life. It stimulates growth and learning. It is a natural part of any accomplishment- things really worth doing. In fact, successful and healthy individuals are not people who avoid stress, but those who respond to it effectively. Beyond the experience of day-to-day stress, we occasionally are confronted with events or circumstances that overwhelm our ability to cope. These experiences are called "Critical Incidents" or "Crisis Events".
Critical or Crisis Incidents
Crisis Reaction– is an acute response to an event which disrupts psychological/emotional homeostasis and results in distress and dysfunction.
Type I Crisis– short-term, unexpected events
Type II Crisis- sustained and repeated ordeal, series of traumatic events or exposure to a prolonged traumatic event
On this page, we address Type I Crisis- usually life threatening events like automotive accidents, natural disasters, acts of violence, etc.
Type I Crisis– short-term, unexpected events
Type II Crisis- sustained and repeated ordeal, series of traumatic events or exposure to a prolonged traumatic event
On this page, we address Type I Crisis- usually life threatening events like automotive accidents, natural disasters, acts of violence, etc.
Post-Crisis Cardinal Symptoms
1. Re-experiencing- intrusive remembering or reliving of the traumatic event
I. Recurrent and intrusive thoughts, dreams and horrifying nightmares
II.Sudden flashbacks/recollections
2. Avoidance- of stimuli reminiscent of the trauma and numbing or loss of pleasure in usually pleasurable activities.
I.Avoid thoughts and feeling associated with trauma
II.Avoidance of reminders of the event
III.Numbing, withdrawal, detached feeling
3. Hyperarousal- sleep difficulties, irritability, hypervigilance, difficulty concentrating, restlessness, exaggerated startle response, outbursts of anger.
For a more comprehensive list of symptoms- see handouts in "There is help..."
I. Recurrent and intrusive thoughts, dreams and horrifying nightmares
II.Sudden flashbacks/recollections
2. Avoidance- of stimuli reminiscent of the trauma and numbing or loss of pleasure in usually pleasurable activities.
I.Avoid thoughts and feeling associated with trauma
II.Avoidance of reminders of the event
III.Numbing, withdrawal, detached feeling
3. Hyperarousal- sleep difficulties, irritability, hypervigilance, difficulty concentrating, restlessness, exaggerated startle response, outbursts of anger.
For a more comprehensive list of symptoms- see handouts in "There is help..."
There is help...
Firstly, these are normal reactions to an abnormal event. Often, if we reach out to loved ones and friends and talk about what happened- symptoms gradually become less painful. Read handouts (ICISF) below carefully-
cisinfosheet.pdf | |
File Size: | 13 kb |
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cism_info_pamphlet.pdf | |
File Size: | 290 kb |
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Sometime, these crisis events can be so difficult to process it is recommended that one seek professional support in order to manage the emotional aftermath-
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation
http://www.icisf.org/
NS College of Counseling Therapists
http://www.nscct.ca/
Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia
http://www.apns.ca/index.html
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation
http://www.icisf.org/
NS College of Counseling Therapists
http://www.nscct.ca/
Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia
http://www.apns.ca/index.html
Information provided by The Nova Scotia Critical Incident Stress Management Network