Coping with a traumatic event can be difficult for an individual and his/her loved ones. This brochure is being provided to you to offer information and assist in the recovery process. 

Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) is a powerful and unconscious physical, emotional and mental reaction that often occurs within one month after exposure to an extreme traumatic stressor. 

Not all victims react in the same way or with the same intensity. Often the intensity of the reaction seems to have little relationship to the severity of the event which has caused the stress. You may have a profoundly powerful reaction to an event which seems much less serious to your friends or family. Another person may seem totally non-stressed after an event which seems overwhelming to others.

Some victims regain a relatively high degree of self-confidence and a sense of safety and well-being fairly quickly, while some crime victims experience ASD (Acute Stress Disorder) as a result of their victimization. Such a reaction may result in depression, anger, fear, detachment from friends or from the world, or helplessness.

Common Physical Symptoms

Common short-term physical symptoms of ASD may include:

• Nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Headaches
• Lack of energy
• Weight loss or gain
• Hyperventilation
• Change in sleeping or eating patterns
• Rapid pulse

Mental and Emotional Responses

These may include:

• Embarrassment
• Feelings of guilt
• Intrusive thinking (mind wandering, flashbacks to the event, or sense of reliving event)
• Nightmares
• Avoidance of places/activities/people that remind you of the trauma
• Mood swings (sudden and unprovoked fear, anger, crying, irritability, giddiness)
• Poor concentration
• Forgetfulness or memory lapses
• Difficulty showing emotion
• Inability to recall an important aspect of trauma
• Disinterest in previously valued activities
• Exaggerated startle response

Coping with a Traumatic Event

Successfully coping with a traumatic event is primarily related to three factors:

• Your perception of the type and severity of the event which disrupted your life.

How your put the traumatic event into perspective is important. In an attempt to make sense out of what happened, it is important that you do not blame yourself. It is also important to understand that strong emotional reactions are common after a traumatic event. The feelings may be new and scary, but they will not last. However, that does not mean tht there will not be ups and owns along the way to recovery. Time will heal -- there is light at the end of the tunnel.

• Your willingness to talk about the event.

It is important that you be willing to talk about the event with others. Open communication will assist in your recovery. Only you can decide who you'll talk to, when you will talk to that person, and how much detail you'll provide.

• Your ability to handle everyday stressors.

The more you deal with everyday stressors, the more likely you are to heal quicker.

Tips for Recovery

There are several things that you can do to assist yourself in recovery.

• Remain in touch with friends and loved ones.

Sometimes there is a tendency for victims to pull away from interactions with others. Often, friends or loved ones do not know what to say and, as a consequence, they either say nothing or say something to which the victim reacts negatively. It may seem to you that friends have abandoned you. You can help by telling friends what you need from them; i.e., "I feel really uncomfortable with physical contact right now," "I appreciate it when you just hold me without asking a lot of questions", or "I'd appreciate if it you would call me every day and just ask me how I'm doing."

• Return to a regular routine as soon as possible.

When something terrifying or incomprehensible happens, the victim's immediate perception is that everything is dangerous and out of control and that he/she is never safe.  Although these feelings are understandable, they may have been distorted by the overwhelming nature of the event that took place. It is important to maintain at least part of your normal routine. it will help you to deal with those "out of control" feelings. If you can maintain at least part of a normal routine, you can begin to deal with these feelings. Little by little, by going to work, shopping, driving, eating, being with family members, exercising, etc., a more healthy and accurate perception of life begins to redevelop. You being to realize that not all the world is dangerous and not everyone is out to get you. With these little successes, you slowly regain self-confidence and start to regain "emotional equilibrium" or stability.

• Find some "normal things" to do, even if they are different from the types of activity enjoyed prior to the traumatic event.

You may not want to participate in relatively complicated human experiences such as going out for drinks, dating, or having sex. However, participating in more simple and routine activities like going to a mall, going out to eat with friends, going to church, or going to a movie may help reinforce a more realistic perception of the world. You may need a friend to act as a social coordinator for a few weeks to suggest and initiate some safe casual activities.

• Get information about the case.

Even if there is not an identified suspect, talking with the police or detectives can help you begin to regain some sense of control. Sometimes information that is seemingly unimportant can be helpful to the police investigation.

If the suspect is identified and criminal charges are possible, the prosecutor and courts will be involved. Your cooperation will be vital to successful prosecution.

• If things do not seem to be getting better within a few weeks, you should consider seeking outside resources to support you and assist in the recovery.

A strong emotional response to a traumatic event is not abnormal. However, if you feel you are not healing or are still feeling overwhelmed by what happened, it may be good to at least consult with an experienced counselor who will be able to assess the severity of your symptoms, provide some feedback or suggestions, and give appropriate directions.

Helping Victims Become Survivors

The Mesa Police Department's Victim Services Unit can refer you to other appropriate helping professionals or organizations according to your specific needs.

Options for assistance include other victim assistance programs, mental health agencies, psychologists, counselors, psychiatrists, or self-help organizations.

Many self-help organizations are specific to certain types of situations. Examples of local groups include: Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), Survivors of Suicide (SOS), The Compassionate Friends (for anyone who has lost a child through death), and Parents of Murdered Children (POMC). Other groups exist for rape victims, adults molested as children, and for those who a grieving the death of a loved one.

You may be eligible for financial assistance from the Crime Victim Compensation Program. Simply applying does not guarantee an award; certain conditions must be met. However, this may be a viable resource for you. Assistance can be provided to victims of violent crime who need help with:

• Funeral expenses
• Wage loss (federal minimum wage)
• Medical and dental expenses (hospital, prescriptions, physicians, ambulance, etc.)
• Mental health counseling expenses

Contact the Crime Victim Compensation Program at (602) 506-4955 for an application and additional information.