Hyperarousal
The third natural response to trauma is hyperarousal, and comes from the "fight or flight response", which is part of our evolutionary heritage. Those who are personally involved in a tragic event commonly experience continuing hyperarousal. This is manifest in disturbed sleep, trouble concentrating, being easily startled, and being overly watchful, on guard, and jumpy. The hyperarousal response makes sense from the perspective of natural selection-those who stayed alert and on guard after danger threatened were more likely to survive and reproduce than those who put their head back down into the sand.
Thematic Concerns
After the recent tragedies in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington DC, you may have heard a number of the following refrains:
"I feel so sad and bad for those who perished."
"I'm worried that things are never going to be the same."
"I'm frightened for the safety of my children-what if something else happens?"
"I feel so powerless."
"I want to do something, anything, to help."
"I never thought that something like this could happen."
"I am so enraged and furious, I'm beside myself." "My troubles feel so small in comparison, I feel guilty about asking for help."
"I just had to talk to people, to tell them how I felt."
The primary task for each person who has lived through a traumatic event is to come to terms with what it means to him or her. We bring different life histories and experiences to bear, and we will not all have the same reactions. Grief, guilt, loss of control and helplessness, rage, fear, and anxiety about the event, are all common reactions after exposure to trauma.
