In fact, a person who has been through a number of critical incidents without effect may find themselves terribly shaken by a particular call. The reverse is true. A person who took some time to recover from an incident may find that they have few symptoms after a particularly harrowing call. Remember, what a person considers grotesque will vary from person to person. The less warning often the more severe the response.
Warning provides an officer with time to develop some coping strategies.
The individual's personality is molded through their genetics and past experiences. Some people have stronger coping mechanisms,and higher degrees of awareness in their philosophical and spiritual life. All these characteristics will alter the effects of a critical incident. Going through a hairy call successfully may make it easier to go through the experience again. The past experience helps the officer think more clearly and more positively in a similar situation.