Coping With Traumatic Events

Responses to trauma can be immediate or delayed, brief or prolonged. Most people have intense responses immediately following, and often for several weeks or months after a traumatic event. These responses can include:

• Feeling anxious, sad, or angry
• Trouble concentrating and sleeping
• Continually thinking about what happened

For most people, these are normal and expected responses and generally lessen with time.

In some cases, these responses continue for a longer period of time and interfere with everyday life. If they are interfering with daily life or are not getting better over time, it is important to seek professional help. Some signs that an individual may need help include:

• Worrying a lot or feeling very anxious, sad, or fearful
• Crying often
• Having trouble thinking clearly
• Having frightening thoughts or flashbacks, reliving the experience
• Feeling angry, resentful, or irritable
• Having nightmares or difficulty sleeping
• Avoiding places or people that bring back disturbing memories and responses.
• Becoming isolated from family and friends

Children and teens can have different reactions to trauma than those of adults. Symptoms sometimes seen in very young children (less than six years old) can include:

• Wetting the bed after having learned to use the toilet
• Forgetting how to or being unable to talk
• Acting out the scary event during playtime
• Being unusually clingy with a parent or other adult

Older children and teens are more likely to show symptoms similar to those seen in adults. They may also develop disruptive, disrespectful, or destructive behaviors. Older children and teens may feel guilty for not preventing injury or deaths. They may also have thoughts of revenge.

Physical responses to trauma may also mean that an individual needs help. Physical symptoms may include:

• Headaches
• Stomach pain and digestive issues
• Feeling tired
• Racing heart and sweating
• Being very jumpy and easily startled

Individuals who have a mental health condition or who have had traumatic experiences in the past, who face ongoing stress, or who lack support from friends and family may be more likely to develop more severe symptoms and need additional help. Some people turn to alcohol or other drugs to cope with their symptoms. Although substance use may seem to relieve symptoms temporarily, it can also lead to new problems and get in the way of recovery.

Free Brochures

• Helping Children and Adolescents Cope With Traumatic Events: This fact sheet presents information on how children and adolescents respond to traumatic events, and what family, friends, and trusted adults can do to help. Also available en español.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: This brochure provides information about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) including what it is, who develops PTSD, symptoms, treatment options, and how to find help for yourself or someone else who may have PTSD. Also available en español.

Health Topics

• Anxiety Disorders
• Depression
• Help for Mental Illnesses
• Medications
• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
• Psychotherapies
• Statistics on Mental Health
• Substance Use and Co-Occurring Mental Disorders
• Suicide Prevention

Federal Resources

Department of Veteran Affairs

• The National Center for PTSD has a website with targeted information for anyone interested in PTSD (including Veterans, family, and friends). The site also offers videos and information about an online app called PTSD Coach.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

• HHS connects service members and their families to resources to find help for mental health problems.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides fact sheets, articles, and other tools and resources for Caring for Children in a Disaster.
• Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response offers comprehensive information about different types of public health emergencies and where to find help on its Public Health Emergency webpage.
• SAMHSA offers tips for coping after a disaster or traumatic event and behavioral health resources for communities and responders that help them prepare, respond, and recover from disasters.
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network, funded by SAMHSA, provides fact sheets for the public and other resources, tools, and trainings to help professionals implement best practices to support children impacted by traumatic stress.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

• Disaster Assistance Improvement Program runs the DisasterAssistance.gov website where visitors can find assistance, apply for benefits, and check the status of their application.
• DHS conducts Ready, a national public service campaign that provides information and resources to help families plan for disasters.

Department of Justice

• Office for Victims of Crime provides information about programs and services to help crime victims.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

• FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or human-made, including acts of terror. The FEMA website provides information for consumers, such as how to buy flood insurance and how to submit a claim for flood damage and other disaster assistance.

National Library of Medicine

• MedlinePlus and MedlinePlus en español provide information about coping with and finding help for traumatic events.

Last Reviewed: May 2022

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