As survivors of yesterday's church shooting gathered and grieved, a cadre of counselors, psychologists and ministers prepared to guide them through the stress of witnessing violence first- hand. Stress disorder symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares and intrusive images of the event that may flood back. Survivors may also feel anxiety.
Victims can also become alternately withdrawn and aggressive in the aftermath.
Adults may react to traumatic events by becoming fearful and overprotective of their children. People may also feel intense anger, hurt and guilt, as well as fear that they have lost control, experts have said. Encourage them to talk openly about them, mental health professionals said yesterday. Kids respond better when they're heard first. Counselors say that it is common for children to react to such a situation by becoming worried that they could be harmed at a place they once considered safe.