News & Entertainment 

Advertisement

Are you OK?

After the shocking events in London on the 7th July many of us have been left feeling confused and shocked. Whether you were in London or witnessed the events on the news, it is not unusual to feel unnerved or traumatised in the aftermath of such devastation. Here, iVillage advises on how to recognise the symptoms of trauma or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in yourself or your loved ones.

• London bombings: the aftermath in pictures
• Explosions in London: your reactions

What happens immediately after a trauma?
Immediately after a trauma you may experience some shock, leaving you feeling stunned, dazed and possibly even cut off from your feelings or what is happening around you. You may also feel a sense of denial, where you can't accept what has happened and so behave as though it hasn't. Feelings of shock may fade over a few days, and other thoughts and feelings take their place.

What happens next?
People react differently and take different amounts of time to come to terms with what has happened. Even so, you may be surprised by the strength of your feelings - you may feel:

Frightened that the same thing will happen again, or that you might lose control of your feelings and break down.

Helpless that something really bad happened and you could do nothing about it. You feel helpless, vulnerable and overwhelmed.

Angry about what has happened and with whoever was responsible.

Guilty that you have survived when others have suffered or died. You may feel that you could have done something to prevent it.

Sad particularly if people were injured or killed, especially someone you knew.

Ashamed or embarrassed that you have these strong feelings you can't control, especially if you need others to support you.

Relieved that the situation is over and that the danger has gone.

Hopeful that your life will return to normal. People can start to feel more positive about things quite soon after a trauma.

What should I do?
Give yourself time
It takes time - weeks or months - to accept what has happened and to learn to live with it. You may need to grieve for what (or who) you have lost.

Find out what happened
It is better to face the reality of what happened rather than wondering about what might have happened.

Ask for support
It can be a relief to talk about what happened. You may need to ask your friends and family for the time to do this - at first they will probably not know what to say or do.

Talk it over
Bit by bit, let yourself think about the trauma and talk about it with others. Don't worry if you cry when you talk, it's natural and usually helpful. Take things at a pace that you feel comfortable with.

Get into a routine
Even if you don't feel much like eating, try to have regular meals and to eat a balanced diet. Taking some exercise can help - but start gently.

Do some 'normal' things with other people
Sometimes you will want to be with other people, but not to talk about what has happened. This can also be part of the healing process.

Take care
After a trauma, people are more likely to have accidents. Be careful around the home and when you are driving.

For more information and advice on seeking medical help, visit The Royal College of Psychiatrists online leaflet on Coping with Trauma

Delicious     Digg     reddit     Facebook     StumbleUpon

  Get the latest iVillage news on your desktop    Sign up for more iVillage RSS feeds

© iVillage Limited 2000-2008. All rights reserved. | © iVillage inc. 1995-2008. All rights reserved.
iVillage Ltd is a UK company registered in England & Wales (3837269) at 80-110 New Oxford Street, London WC1 1HB