- PsyACS - Psychological and Counseling Services

Counseling Center
(973) 353-5805
Blumenthal Hall, Room 101
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Managing Traumatic Stress

Yesterday’s shooting rampage on Virginia Tech’s campus was sudden, horrific and may evoke strong emotional reactions for many, especially those who live, attend or work in a college campus community.

The Counseling Center will receive walk-in visits from students who are experiencing emotional distress in response to this traumatic event for the remainder of the week from 8:30a.m.- 5:00p.m. For faculty and staff in need of assistance, the Employee Assistance Program (732)932-7539 is available to provide counseling support.

Below, is a description of what one may experience following the exposure to traumatic events such as this, and ways to attempt to cope.

What emotions or behavioral changes might people experience after witnessing or exposure to traumatic events through the media?
Generally speaking, those impacted by trauma may feel more irritable than usual, experience more extreme mood shifts and feel anxious or nervous or depressed. They may experience intrusive images of the trauma, increased heartbeat, sweating, headaches or nausea. They may find it hard to concentrate or make decisions, feel easily confused and experience changes in sleeping and eating patterns.

What can I do to help myself and my friends and family?
Allow yourself time to heal. Recognize that you have been exposed to a traumatic experience and this may be a difficult time for you. Be patient with changes in your emotional state or functioning. Establish routines that bring comfort and predictability to your life and plan pleasurable activities.

Take a break from the televised coverage of the trauma from time to time. Maintain a balance between your desire to remain informed and the awareness that repeated viewings of the aftermath of the disaster may continue to exacerbate the effects of the trauma by witnessing it over and over again.

Talk to friends and family members who are able to listen and empathize with how you are feeling.

Eat well-balanced meals, get plenty of rest and exercise to give your body more fuel to cope with the additional stress. Avoid alcohol and drugs as means to cope with distressing feelings or sleep difficulties as these interfere with the healing process and may cause other complications.

Be kind to yourself and recognize that it’s understandable to feel relief that the trauma did not directly affect you. Some people feel guilty for being safe when others were not. Both feelings are common.

If possible, avoid making major life decisions or changes at this time because these activities are in themselves stressful and demand coping skills that may already be taxed at this time.

Find a productive way to help if you can. Helping in some way can provide a way to feel some level of "control" over a traumatic event, which may otherwise make one feel helpless or overwhelmed.

Keep things in perspective. Although a disaster and its aftermath is often horrifying, you should also focus on those things that are good in your life and in the world.

When should I seek professional help?
Many people are able to cope effectively with the emotional and physical demands brought about by a traumatic event using their own support systems. It is not unusual, however, to find that for some, serious problems may persist and continue to interfere with daily living. In other cases, ones support system may be limited in its ability to help cope with the trauma because they are also feeling the effects of the traumatic event. Individuals with prolonged reactions that interfere with their daily functioning and those with limited social support systems are encouraged to contact the Counseling Center to talk to a counselor who can assist them with finding constructive ways to cope with the emotional impact of a traumatic event such as that recently experienced in Virginia.

Counseling Resources
For Students: Counseling Center (973)353-5805
For Faculty & Staff: Employee Assistance Program (732)932-7539