Use the experience to change your 

life in positive ways—Few of us get 

the opportunity and privilege of serving and being with individuals and communities in the hours of their greatest need. It is indeed a privilege. With that privilege comes responsibilities. One is the responsibility to be as well prepared as possible to be optimally helpful. If there is the potential for being deployed again, take all opportunities available to become as prepared as possible. There is also a responsibility to use this unique experience as a way of honoring and bearing witness to the loss and suffering of others, to use the experience to positively infl uence our lives. Are our priorities and values what they should be? Are we as prepared for adversity as we should be? Do we value our family, friends, and colleagues as we should? When we see others whose lives have been turned upside down, lives prematurely ended, and lives forever changed through loss, we are well served by reassessing our own values and priorities.

SAMHSA ResourcesInformation ClearinghousesDisaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC) (800) 308-3515 www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/dtacNational Mental Health Information

Center (NMHIC)

P.O. Box 42557, Washington, DC 20015(800) 789-2647 (English and Español) (866) 889-2647 (TDD)www.mentalhealth.samhsa.govNational Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI)P.O. Box 2345, Rockville, MD 20847-2345(800) 729-6686 (English and Español)(800) 487-4889 (TDD)www.ncadi.samhsa.govTreatment LocatorsMental Health Services Locator(800) 789-2647 (English and Español)(866) 889-2647 (TDD)www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/databasesSubstance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator(800) 662-HELP (4357) (Toll-Free, 24-Hour English and Español Treatment

Referral Service)(800) 487-4889 (TDD)www.fi ndtreatment.samhsa.govHotlines

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline(800) 273-TALK (8255)(800) 799-4889 (TDD)

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Returning 

Getting Help If you feel you need additional information, you may find this list of resources to be helpful.

Other Federal ResourcesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention—Mental Healthhttp://www.bt.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Scienceshttp://www.usuhs.mil/psy/factsheets.htmlFederal Occupational Health Employee Assistance Program for Federal and Federalized Employeeshttp://www.foh4you.com or (800) 222-0364(888) 262-7848 (TTY)National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/topics/katrina.html
Before Returning to Work

During your disaster response and recovery efforts, you most likely worked under less than desirable conditions while taking care of others. Before you return to your normal duties, you will want to take care of yourself by making sure that all your basic needs are met. These include the following:

Maintaining a healthy diet, routine

exercise, adequate rest/sleep 

Spending time with family 

and friends

Paying attention to health concernsMeeting neglected daily personal 

tasks (e.g., pay bills, mow lawn, shop for groceries)

Refl ecting upon what the 

experience has meant personally and professionally

Getting involved in personal and 

family preparedness.

Signs of StressThe following is a list that you may fi nd helpful in identifying signs of stress in yourself or others who have had experiences similar to yours:

Anxiety, fearGrief, guilt, self-doubt, sadnessIrritability, anger, resentment, 

increased confl icts with friends/family

Increased use of alcohol or 

other drugs

••••••••••

Feeling overwhelmed, hopeless, 

despair, depressed

Anticipation of harm to self 

or others; isolation or social withdrawal

InsomniaGait changeHyper-vigilance; startle reactionsCrying easilyGallows/morbid humorRitualistic behaviorMemory loss, anomia (i.e., diffi culty

naming objects or people)

Calculation diffi culties; 

decisionmaking diffi culties

Confusion in general and/or 

confusing trivial with major issues

Concentration problems/

distractibility

Reduced attention span and/or 

preoccupation with disaster

Recurring dreams or nightmaresFatigueNauseaFine motor tremorsTics or muscle twitchesParesthesia (e.g., numbness and 

tingling in extremities)

Profuse sweatingDizzinessStomach or gastrointestinal upsetHeart Palpitations/fl utteringChoking or smothering sensation

••••••••••••••••••••••••

Intrusive thoughtsRelationship problemsJob/school-related problemsDecreased libido/sexual interestAppetite changeOverly critical, blamingDecreased immune response.

Expecting the UnexpectedUpon returning to your routine duties, you may notice changes in yourself, your coworkers, or your work environment. The following are a few examples of potential diffi culties you may face and some tips on how to overcome them.Pace change—The disaster 

environment often moves at a pace that is much faster than the normal workplace. After working in a disaster response environment, this begins to feel normal. When returning to normal work, it may appear that people are moving at a much slower pace than you remember. It is easy to misinterpret this as laziness or lack of caring or motivation. Remember that it is probably you who has changed, not them. Be slow to judge, criticize, or make assumptions.

Unrelenting fatigue—Even with 

what seems like suffi cient sleep, you may experience chronic fatigue. This may be a result of several factors. You may need more rest than you realize. 

•••••••

Sometimes chronic stress results in never feeling rested. Chronic fatigumay also be a result of a medical condition. See a doctor if chronic fatigue persists.Cynicism—Typically, during disas

work you see the best and the worindividuals and systems and it is eato become cynical. This is expectedThese feelings often diminish over time once you are able to focus on positive results of your work.

Dissatisfaction with routine work—

is very rewarding to be involved, directly or indirectly, in saving liveand protecting our fellow citizen’s health and safety. Most work does not provide such dramatic and immediate reinforcement. You migstart seeing your daily work routinas lacking meaning and satisfactionThese feelings are normal. To counthese feelings, incorporate the posithings you have learned during disresponse into your personal and professional life.

Easily evoked emotions—Sometim

the combination of intense experiences, fatigue, and/or stress leaves you especially vulnerable to unexpected emotions. For exampleyou may cry easily, be quick to angor experience dramatic mood swinThese are normal reactions that typically subside over time. In the meantime, be aware of your reactidiscuss your experiences, and be sensitive of comments that might hurtful or upsetting to others.

Relating your experiences—While 

may want to share your experiencewith others, you may be unsure if appropriate. This is normal. Exerccare when discussing your disaster relief experiences, especially graphand disturbing topics while in the presence of children or others who emotionally vulnerable.

Whether your disaster relief assignment took you to the front lines or behind the scenes, you have made anenormous contribution to our fellow Americans. You have faced diffi cult challenges to help people in a timeof extraordinary need. You have experienced rare and rewarding opportunities that have proven to be uniquelystressful. The effects of that stress can cause diffi culties as you reenter the workplace. This brochure contains useful information to ease your transition and enhance your return to your usual work routine.