Stress: Signs and Symptoms

It is quite normal for people to experience emotional aftershocks when they have passed through a horrible event. Sometimes the aftershocks appear immediately after a traumatic event and sometimes hours or even days later. The signs and symptoms of a stress reaction may last a few days, a few weeks or a few months or longer depending on the severity of the event. The following are some common signs and signals of a stress reaction.

* Any of these symptoms may indicate the need for medical evaluation. When in doubt, contact a physician.

**Common Signs and Signals of a Stress Reaction**
Physical *	Cognitive	Emotional	Behavioral
Chills	Confusion	Fear	Withdrawal
Thirst	Nightmares	Guilt	Antisocial acts
Fatigue	Uncertainty	Grief	Inability to rest
Fainting	Suspiciousness	Denial	Erratic movements
Twitches	Intrusive images	Anxiety	Change in social activity
Vomiting	Blaming someone	Agitation	Change in speech patterns
Dizziness	Poor problem solving	Irritability	Loss or increase of appetite
Weakness	Poor abstract thinking	Depression	Hyper-alert to environment
Chest pain	Poor attention/decision	Intense anger	Increased alcohol consumption
Headaches	Poor concentration/memory	Apprehension	Change in usual communications
Elevated BP	Disorientation of time, place or person	Emotional shock	-
Rapid heart rate	Difficulty identifying objects or people	Emotional outbursts	-
Muscle tremors	Heightened or lowered alertness	Feeling overwhelmed	-
Shock symptoms	Increased or decreased awareness of surroundings	Loss of emotional control	-
Grinding of teeth	-	Inappropriate emotional response	-
Visual difficulties	-	-	-
Profuse sweating	-	-	-
Difficulty breathing	-	-	-

Things to Try

Within the first 24–28 hours, periods of appropriate physical exercise, alternated with relaxation, will alleviate some of the physical reactions.
Structure your time—keep busy.
You're normal and having normal reactions—don't label yourself crazy.
Talk to people—talk is the most healing medicine.
Be aware of numbing the pain with overuse of drugs or alcohol; you don't need to complicate this with a substance abuse problem.
Reach out—people do care.
Maintain as normal a schedule as possible.
Spend time with others.
Help your co-workers as much as possible by sharing feelings and checking out how they are doing.
Give yourself permission to feel rotten and share your feelings with others.
Keep a journal, and write your way through those sleepless hours.
Do things that feel good to you.
Realize those around you are under stress.
Don't make any big life changes.
Make as many daily decisions as possible, which will give you a feeling of control over your life. For example, if someone asks you what you want to eat, answer them even if you're unsure.
Get plenty of rest.
Recurring thoughts, dreams, or flashbacks are normal. Don't try to fight them; they will decrease over time and become less painful.
Eat well-balanced and regular meals (even if you don't feel like it).

For Family Members and Friends

Listen carefully.
Spend time with the traumatized person.
Offer your assistance and a listening ear if they have not asked for help.
Reassure them that they are safe.
Help them with everyday tasks like cleaning, cooking, caring for the family, minding children.
Give them some private time.
Don't take their anger or other feelings personally.
Don't tell them that they are "lucky it wasn't worse;" those statements do not console traumatized people. Instead, tell them that you are sorry such an event occurred and want to understand and assist them.

Some information on this page was used and reproduced with full permission of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.