Symptoms: Impact From a Traumatic Incident

Stages Thinking Feeling Physical Social

Relationships
ƒ Slowed and/or disorganized ƒ Psychic numbness ƒ Physical numbness ƒ Passive
Shock thinking ƒ Blunting ƒ Feeling of unreality ƒ Unaware of others
ƒ Blocking ƒ Outbursts ƒ Feeling of being outside
ƒ Suicidal thoughts ƒ Euphoria body
ƒ Wish to join deceased ƒ Hysteria ƒ Hypo or hyperactivity
ƒ May appear unaffected ƒ Unaffected ƒ Talkative
ƒ Preoccupied with thoughts of ƒ Sadness ƒ Physical distress ƒ Dependent
deceased ƒ Fear ƒ Pain in chest ƒ Seeks help
ƒ Searching ƒ Anger ƒ Sleep disturbance
Protest ƒ Rumination ƒ Guilt ƒ Fatigue
ƒ Dreams ƒ Relief ƒ Nausea
ƒ Hallucinations ƒ Irritability ƒ Decreased appetite
ƒ Yearning ƒ Weight loss
ƒ Intense anguish
ƒ Confusion ƒ Sadness ƒ Deceased inside self ƒ Withdrawn
ƒ Aimlessness ƒ Loneliness ƒ Adopt traits and ƒ Avoids others
Disorganization ƒ Slowed thinking ƒ Depression mannerisms of deceased ƒ Lacks initiative
ƒ Loss of Interest ƒ Meaninglessness ƒ Restlessness ƒ Lacks interest
ƒ Decreased self esteem ƒ Apathy ƒ Decreased resistance to
ƒ Focus on memories ƒ Feeling of unreality illness
ƒ Develop realistic memory of ƒ Experience both ƒ Return to previous level ƒ New or renewed
deceased sadness and happiness social
ƒ Develop pleasure in relationships
Reorganization
remembering ƒ New or renewed
ƒ Return to previous level of interests
functioning
ƒ Find new meaning in life

A key factor in noticing symptoms is “change” – What has changed in this employee’s behaviors, attitude, etc.
Stages, time periods and manifestations very greatly among individuals.