Adapted from CISM Information Pamphlet:

With the recent hurricanes you have experienced a traumatic event.  You may experience unusually strong emotional reactions which have the potential to interfere with your ability to function either now or later.  It is very common, in fact quite normal, for people to experience emotional aftershocks when they have passed through a horrible event.  Sometimes the emotional aftershocks (or stress reactions) appear immediately after the traumatic event.  Sometimes they may appear a few hours or a few days later.  And, in some cases, weeks or months may pass before the stress reactions appear.  The signs and symptoms of a stress reaction may last a few days, a few weeks or a few months and occasionally longer depending on the severity of the traumatic event.  With understanding and the support of loved ones the stress reactions usually pass more quickly.  Occasionally, the traumatic event is so painful that professional assistance from a counselor may be necessary.  This does not imply craziness or weakness.  It simply indicates that the particular event was just too powerful for the person to manage by themselves.

Here are some common signs and signals of a stress reaction:

Physical - Chills, thirst, fatigue, nausea, fainting, twitches, vomiting, dizziness, weakness, chest pain, headaches, elevated blood pressure, rapid heart rate, muscle tremors, grinding of teeth, visual difficulties, profuse sweating, difficulty breathing, etc.  Any of these symptoms may indicate the need for medical evaluation.  When in doubt, contact a physician.

Cognitive - Confusion, nightmares, uncertainty, hyper vigilance, suspiciousness, intrusive images, blaming someone, poor problem solving, poor abstract thinking, poor attention/decisions, poor concentration/memory, disorientation of time, place or person, difficulty identifying objects or people, heightened or lowered alertness, increased or decreased awareness of surroundings, etc.

Emotional - Fear, guilt, grief, panic, denial, anxiety, agitation, irritability, depression, intense anger, apprehension, emotional shock, emotional outbursts, feeling overwhelmed, loss of emotional control, inappropriate emotional response, etc.

Behavioral - Withdrawal, antisocial acts, inability to rest, intensified pacing, erratic movements, change in social activity, change in speech patterns, loss or increase of appetite, hyper alert to enviornment, increased alcohol consumption, change in usual communications, etc.

Spiritual - Anger at God, questioning of basic beliefs, withdrawal from place of worship, faith practices and rituals seem empty, loss of meaning and purpose, uncharacteristic religious involvement, sense of isolation from spirituality, anger at religious leaders.

Ways for you to cope

• 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.
• Beware 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 each other as much as possible by sharing feelings and checking out how others are doing.
• Give yourself permission to feel rotten and share your feelings with others.
• Keep a journal; write your way through those sleepless hours.
• Do things that feel good to you.
• Realize that those around you are under stress.
• Don't make any big life changes.
• Do make as many daily decisions as possible which will give you a feeling of control over your life, i.e., if someone asks you what you want to eat - answer them even if you are not sure.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Reoccurring thoughts, dreams or flashbacks are normal - don't try to fight them - they'll decrease over time and become less painful.
• Eat well-balanced and regular meals (even if you don;t feel like it). 

Ways for the Stetson Community to cope

• Listen carefully.
• Spend time with each other.
• Offer your assistance and listening ear if they have not asked for help.
• Reassure them that they are safe.
• Give them some private time.
• Don't tell them that they are "lucky it wasn't worse" - traumatized people are not consoled by those statements.  Instead, tell them that you are sorry such an event has occurred and you want to understand and assist them.