The trauma that does not bleed

Trauma

• THE FIRST DEFINITION LISTED UNDER TRAUMA IS, “EMOTIONAL SHOCK”

• EMERGENCY AND DISASTER RESPONSE ARE INHERIENTLY TRAUMATIC AND STRESSFUL

• RESPONSE STRESS IS VIEWED AS A NORMAL PART OF “THE JOB” AND THE MAJORITY OF WORKERS FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY

• CUMULATIVE RESPONSE STRESS, OFTEN NOT RECOGNIZED, CAN HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE HEALTH, WELL BEING AND LONGEVITY OF RESPONDERS

STRESS:

A RESPONSE TO PERCEIVED

THREAT

CHALLENGE OR

CHANGE

STRESS RESPONSE

DESIGNED TO HELP

1. FLIGHT

2. FIGHT

3. FREEZE

STRESS AFFECTS FUNCTION

• PHYSICAL

• MENTAL

• EMOTIONAL

• SPIRITUAL

PHYSICAL EFFECTS

CHANGE BENEFIT PROBLEM SOLUTION

PUPILS DILATE

INCREASED PERIPHERAL VISION

HEAD ACHES DARKNESS OR EXCEDRIN

DRY, TACKY MOUTH

CLEAR AIRWAY

BAD BREATH WATER, BREATH MINTS

INCREASED HCL

DIGEST PROTEIN

GAS AND PAIN

SIMETHICONE, ANTACID

DECREASED PERISTALSIS

> BLOOD TO MUSCLES

DIARRHEA PSYLLIUM

MENTAL EFFECTS

• MEMORY • IMMEDIATE

• SHORT TERM

• LONG TERM

• ALTERED TIME PERSPECTIVE

• DECREASED LEARNING SPEED

• ATTENTION SPAN

MENTAL EFFECTS

• CONFUSION, DISORIENTATION

• INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS, IMAGES

• RECURRING DREAMS, NIGHTMARES

• DIFFICULTY MAKING DECISIONS

INTERVENTION FOR MENTAL STRESS EFFECTS

TARA LIST RITUALS MEDITATION TAKE CONTROL

EMOTIONAL EFFECTS

• ISOLATION, EMOTIONAL WITHDRAWAL

• ANGER

• SADNESS

• ANXIETY

• DECREASED TRUST

INTERVENTIONS FOR EMOTIONAL EFFECTS

• PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMS

• FAMILY AND ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT

• ENHANCED COMMUNICATIONS

• ENCOURAGE REQUESTING ASSISTANCE, NORMALIZE RESPONSES WHEN APPROPRIATE

SPIRITUAL EFFECTS

• SPIRITUAL IS NOT RELIGIOUS

• VALUES – BELIEFS THAT ARE RELATIVELY PERMENENT AND INFLUENCE BEHAVIOR, NOT JUST WORDS

• BELIEFS – BASED ON SOCIAL MORES AND MORAYS (UNWRITTEN CODE OF SOCIAL CONDUCT)

INTERVENTIONS FOR SPIRITUAL EFFECTS

• FOLLOWING CULTURAL OR RELIGIOUS PRACTICES

• REFRAMING THE EVENT INTO A LIFE EXPERIENCE PERSPECTIVE

• DISCUSS THE EXPERIENCE WITH A MENTOR OR SOMEONE RESPECTED WHO IS FAMILIAR WITH PERSONAL BELIEFS

SELF-HELP TECHNIQUES

• KNOW THE NORMAL REACTIONS TO STRESSFUL EVENTS

• USE A BUDDY SYSTEM

• BE SELF AWARE AND INTERVENE TO REDUCE TENSION

• IDENTIFY A MENTOR YOU TRUST

• LISTEN TO OTHERS DESCRIBE THEIR EXPERIENCES

SELF-HELP TECHNIQUES

• DO NOT SELF MEDICATE

• BE GENTLE WITH YOU

• DON’T BE A PERFECTIONIST WITH UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS

• SEEK PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT WHEN NEEDED

GRADY P. BRAY, PHD

9 HUNTERS CREEK DR. HUNTSVILLE, TX 77340

gradybray@sbcglobal.net Phone 936-494-8194

“It is often through our service to others that we define the meaning of our own lives.” -