Common Reactions to Trauma
Behavioral
Avoidance behaviors
Use of alcohol to numb
Use of drugs (prescription or not) to numb
Abandonment of fun activities
Overly involved in work
Desire to leave field
Less productive
Losing or misplacing things
Easily startled/hyperalert to environment
Tearful
Slowed down or hyperactive
Aimless wandering
Dejection
Sudden lifestyle changes
Sleep disorders
Risky/Self-Destructive behaviors
Excessive spending
Accident-prone
Affective (Emotional)
Numb/emotionally shut down/ shocked
Anxious/Fearful
Fear of recurrence
Agitation
Irritability
Frustration
Overwhelmed
Anger (at self, others, God)
Resentment
Mood swings
Troubling dreams
Sadness
Depression
Grief
Feelings of helplessness or inadequacy
Sense of guilt
Loss of sense of humor
Less able to cope with new or continued emotional stress
Somatic (Physical)
Pounding heart
Sweating
Flushed
Shortness of breath/Hyperventilation
Chest Pains
Nausea/Vomiting
Upset stomach, cramps, diarrhea
Loss of appetite or craving junk food
Muscle tremors
Muffled hearing
Loss of coordination
Frequent headaches or migraines (that aren't normal for you)
Muscle pain
Rapid uncontrolled speech
Difficulty sitting or relaxing
Dizzy or fainting
Dryness of mouth and throat
Frequent need to urinate
Grinding of teeth
Inability to shake a cold
Weight change (gain or loss)
Insomnia, nightmares
Feeling of exhaustion and fatigue
Change in sexual functioning or desire
Missed menstrual cycle
Interpersonal
Easily frustrated
Insensitivity
Loss of interest in others
Withdrawal from connections/fellowship
Insecurity
Avoidance of intimacy
Suspicious
Clingy
Discord/Arguments
Critical of others
Scapegoating (a focal point for suppressed anger and depression)
Hypersensitivity (feelings easily hurt)
Family problems
Compulsive talking
Cognitive
Disbelief
Horror
Confusion
Poor concentration, spaciness
Poor decision-making abilities
Trouble prioritizing
Disorientation
Poor memory
Poor attention (not retaining information)
Preoccupied with trauma memories
Preoccupation with health
Time distortion (slows down or speeds up)
Increased rigidity and closed thinking (Inflexibility)
Feeling omnipotent (unrealistic appraisal of situation)
Cynicism or negativism
Absolute thinking (I will never; this always)
Negative/critical judgments against self (I am such a failure)
Hindsight thinking (If only; why didn’t...)
Flashbacks or other intrusive imagery
Work/Ministry
Increasingly busy with task orientation
Loss of a sense of purpose/role
Less meaning in ministry
Disappointment with God
Loss of motivation
Questioning former beliefs
Conclusions: Each person is unique in how they respond to a trauma, so your response may not be the same as another person who has gone through the same or a similar experience. Remember that it takes time to heal. After you work through these reactions, you will come to a new place in your life that is characterized by deeper understanding, healthier conclusions, resilience, deeper trust, and an expanded worldview. You will be one who has suffered and yet thrived. Even after many of the memories are gone and you are feeling much better, there may still be things which trigger these reactions and painful memories. If these symptoms become very intense and persist over a long period of time, or if you are noticing impairment in your work or relationships, you may want to consider talking with a counselor who specializes in trauma. This does not mean that you are crazy, only that you need some help.
Modified from the Mobile Member Care Team , Common Reactions to Trauma: Adult Handout -- mmct.org