Post traumatic stress a concern across country

Thursday, Sept. 13, 2001 | 10:28 a.m.

Stress tips

To relieve symptoms of post-traumatic stress, the American Psychological Association recommends that people:

Pat Sondron on Tuesday knew she wouldn't be able to concentrate on her job at a cellular phone call center. She asked her boss for the afternoon off.

But rather than go home, Sondron headed for the United Blood Services donation center in Henderson.

"I couldn't think of anything else I could do to help," Sondron, a Summerlin resident, said. "I had to do something besides cry."

It isn't necessary for people to know someone who was victimized by Tuesday attacks on the World Trade Center or Pentagon to experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress, experts say.

"This is a traumatic stress reaction on a national level," said Charles Cooley, a psychologist at University Medical Center in Las Vegas. "The horror of this will stay with us for a long, long time."

Some people's reactions to emotional trauma are immediate. Others may not appear affected until weeks, or even months, later. Feelings of helplessness, horror and anger are all normal emotions following a traumatic event, Cooley said.

"For many of us, the reality boundaries that keep us comfortable have disintegrated, and that's understandably frightening," Cooley said.

In many cases, simply talking about the situation and acknowledging the pain and grief is enough, Cooley said. For others, such as Sondron, donating blood helps channel the emotional energy into a positive activity. But for some people, professional help from a counselor or member of the clergy is needed, he said.

"We need to watch ourselves and our family members," Cooley said. "If you're feeling depressed or anxious, it's important that you talk to someone quickly."

Serious warning signs can include loss of appetite, insomnia, personality changes or overwhelming fear. Some experience inappropriate emotional reactions, such as laughing when others cry.

People who are already strained emotionally or who engage in risky behavior are particularly vulnerable, Cooley said.

"People who drink may drink more, married couples already having trouble may find themselves arguing constantly," Cooley said.