Emotional Responses to Traumatic Events

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• Emotional Responses to Traumatic Events
• Managing Emotions During A Traumatic Event
• Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans
• From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs

Emotional Responses to Traumatic Events

Tragedy struck Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon on October 1, 2015. Since the mass shooting that killed 10 and injured nine, many have wondered, "Is it normal for people who aren't directly connected to the event to feel traumatized?" Yes, it can be normal to have strong emotional reactions (despair, anger, fear, anxiety, depression, etc.) to traumatic events.

To be diagnosed with a trauma and stressor-related disorder, one must meet criteria outlined in the American Psychiatric Association's DSM-5. However, it doesn't take a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or acute stress disorder to experience intense reactions to a horrific event, even one that occurs far away.

Managing Emotions During A Traumatic Event

When tragedy occurs, it's helpful to remember that feelings are just feelings. Allow them to happen, and then try some reality testing: check with yourself or someone else to see just how realistic your thoughts and emotions are. Then, grounded in your reality, put your feelings in perspective. It can be healthy, too, to limit your exposure to the event by restricting your time in front of news and social media. It's normal to react strongly to a traumatic event. For safeguarding your mental health, identify what's happening and maintain a healthy balance; empathize without getting lost in the traumatic emotions.

Related Articles Dealing with Emotional Responses to Traumatic Events

• What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
• PTSD Causes: Causes of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Two Ways to Keep Calm in the Face of Tragedy
• Conversations: Talking About Tragic Events With Your Child

Your Thoughts

Today's Question: Today’s Question: If you've ever faced a traumatic situation, what have you done to balance your emotions and stay mentally healthy? We invite you to participate by commenting and sharing your feelings, experiences and knowledge on the HealthyPlace Facebook page.

Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans

Here are the top 3 mental health articles HealthyPlace Facebook fans are recommending you read:

1. Using Running to Fight Depression
2. Seven Biggest Myths About Bipolar Disorder
3. How Do I Stop Verbal Abuse?

If you're not already, I hope you'll join us/like us on Facebook too. There are a lot of wonderful, supportive people there.

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From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs

On all our blogs, your comments and observations are welcomed.

• Signs of Emotional Abuse, Emotionally Abusive Relationships (Mental Health Treatment Circle Blog)
• Tips for Traveling with Depression (Coping with Depression Blog)
• Intense Anxiety and the Highly Sensitive Person (Anxiety-Schmanxiety Blog)
• Find Bliss through Fun Fall Activities (Living A Blissful Life Blog)
• When Bipolar Ruins Your Vacation (Breaking Bipolar Blog)
• What Is Your Reason to Stay Sober? (Recovering From Mental Illness Blog)
• The Link between Traumatic Brain Injury and Combat PTSD (Understanding Combat PTSD)
• How To Cope With Body Memories In PTSD Recovery and Establishing Boundaries in PTSD Recovery (Trauma! A PTSD Blog)
• How Setting Intentions Improved My Confidence and Identifying Your Good Qualities When You Believe You’re Worthless (Building Self-Esteem Blog)
• How to Stop Stress from Taking Over Your Life (Your Mental Health Blog)
• Mental Health Stigma Varies Between Disorders (Surviving Mental Health Stigma Blog)
• Overeating And Binge Eating Disorder (Binge Eating Recovery Blog)
• Why Anxiety Makes You Feel Stupid and Like a Failure (Treating Anxiety Blog)
• How to Help a Loved One Going Through Depression (Mental Health for the Digital Generation Blog)
• When Social Media Relationships are Good for Mental Illness Recovery (Relationships and Mental Illness Blog)
• Difficulty Sleeping Relates to Alcohol Use and Withdrawal and Caffeine Addiction and Dependency: Real Disorders? (Debunking Addiction Blog)
• Schizophrenia and Obsessive Thinking (Creative Schizophrenia Blog)

On all our blogs, your comments and observations are welcomed.

Feel free to share your thoughts and comments at the bottom of any blog post. And visit the mental health blogs homepage for the latest posts.

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