The impact of a tragedy does not end after the sirens stop; the days to follow can be very difficult. The trauma of a school shooting leaves deep emotional and psychological scars on survivors, families, and the community. Such tragedy often shatters one's sense of safety and normalcy, often triggering feelings of fear, grief, and deep sadness.
What is trauma?
For those directly impacted, the trauma may manifest as anxiety, nightmares, and flashbacks. Survivors may struggle with guilt, questioning why they survived while others didn’t, and face long-term psychological effects such as PTSD. Students, teachers, and even those far from the scene or watching on media outlets may feel heightened fear and anxiety about their safety and experience secondary trauma. Parents may question sending their children to school and children may have difficulty focusing in class thinking about the possible dangers that could happen in their school day.
What you may experience days after a tragedy?
Anxiety
Fear
Shock
Feeling Emotionally Numb
Meaning/Answer Seeking
Fight, Flight, Freeze, or Flock Response
Sadness
Anger
Nightmares
Hypervigilance
Recovering from a traumatic school shooting takes time and is an ongoing process of emotional healing, seeking support, and coming together as a community for comfort and ideas for future safety. In time, our community can begin to rebuild safety and move towards hope and resiliency.
Listen to our therapist Q&A for more information about what you may experience the days after a tragedy.
Written by: Jennifer Wilmoth, LMFT
Comments