People may feel confused, not able to think well, concentrate, remember things or problemsolve.
They may feel depressed, exhausted unable to rest and wanting to withdraw. All of these
feelings are normal if they don’t last for a long time.
People may feel agitated, anxious, hyper-alert and hyper-vigilant ("on guard"), easily irritated
and unable to control their emotions. They need to engage in activities and creative expression
that calms them. Being with family members and friends can help calming.
People may feel suspicious and paranoid. They may be feeling intense anger and wanting to
engage in antisocial acts. They can become very critical and blame everyone. It is important to
talk to friends and check with them the reality of our impressions and to not engage in any act
that we cannot share with different friends.
Children may become ‘clingy’ and have nightmares. They may stomachaches and headaches.
Alternatively, they may act out aggressively. This is normal. It might last a few days or more but
it will pass. They need to be reassured and made to feel protected.
Physiological response
It is natural to have a physical reaction to this stress, so don’t let these scare you. It is good to
recognize signs of 'activation’ and not to be scared by them: