Employees in the greater Washington area have been dismissed for the day for safety reasons but many of APA's senior and executive staff are at the Central Office responding to media calls. APA has prepared a preliminary set of talking points LPMA members might want to use as a starting point for any discussions you might have with media in your area. Take control of what you can. If you feel anxious, angry or depressed, you're not alone. Talk to friends, family or colleagues who may likely experience the same feelings.
Many people survive disasters without developing significant psychological problems.
It is particularly important to listen to children, accept their fears and talk with them. In general research shows that the more devastating and terrifying the trauma is, the more vulnerable someone will be to develop psychiatric symptoms. Researchers are less sure, at this time, about what factors protect some people from psychiatric problems following exposure to trauma. Survivors of trauma have reported a wide range of psychiatric problems that develop after the traumatic event. People suffering with ASD or PTSD often have persistent nightmares or flashbacks of the trauma.