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Employee Assistance Program → Trauma

Trauma

Trauma in our lives and in our community causes a strong emotional reaction in many of us. For some people, this emotional response may be severe. While an individual's reactions may vary, the range of responses is well known. 

There are a number of common reactions to this kind of stress that you may experience. They include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Difficulty focusing or concentrating
  • Recurring thoughts, dreams, or flashbacks to other traumatic events
  • Sleeplessness or fatigue
  • Change in appetite; upset stomach
  • Crying
  • Irritability
  • Anger
  • Grief
  • Feelings of guilt
  • Quick temper
  • Headache
  • Alcohol or other drug use

If you are experiencing any of these reactions, take care of yourself by doing some of the following:

  • Take several slow, deep breaths to alleviate the feelings of anxiety
  • Talk about what is happening
  • Talk about your feelings with friends and loved ones
  • Create a daily routine to help you feel in control
  • Eat balanced meals, even if you're not hungry, so you have the energy to cope with stress
  • Take time to let your body relax and recover
  • Cry when you need to
  • Let anger out by beating on a pillow or doing a safe, exhausting physical activity
  • Exercise
  • Avoid the use of alcohol and other drugs and limit caffeine intake
  • Seek help by calling the EAP

If you want further information on how to deal with your emotions or how to cope during a tragedy, please go to the following links:

http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/- Information about coping with natural disasters. Many other topics of interest on the site.

http://mentalhealth.about.com/library/crisis/bltips.htm - links to articles about managing mental health in times of crisis. Articles are grouped as follows: for children and adolescents, for adults, for emergency and disaster response workers. Also available in Spanish.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/studentservices- information related to the MCPS crisis response. Includes links to other Montgomery County resources.

The MCPS Employee Assistance Program offers no-cost and confidential counseling (up to eight sessions). If you need to talk, have questions, or want information, you may call our office at 240-740-6500.