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Deployment Toolkit


Reaction to Extreme Events

This table highlights some of the more common reactions to extreme events.

  PHYSICAL   PSYCHOLOGICAL   EMOTIONAL
  Heart racing
  Breathing rapidly
  Dry Mouth
  Nausea
  Sweating
  Stomach 'Butterflies'
  Disturbed Sleep
  Poor Appetite
  Loss of interest in sex
   Feeling on a knife edge
  Poor Concentration
  Disturbing Dreams
  Reliving the event (Flashbacks)
  Irritability
  Day Dreaming
   Feeling frightened
  Feeling guilty
  Feeling angry
  Feeling helpless

Reactions to trauma can last for anything up to 4 weeks. If it lasts longer than 4 weeks or if the reaction is particularly intense' or too distressing you must let someone know. Your managers, Padre, SSAFA FH Rep., SMO and Practice Nurse all know about these reactions and will give you time for a chat and suggest some ways of easing the reaction.

Trauma Related Illness
Reactions to trauma can lead to illness but this rare. If a reaction persists for a long time or our mood goes down for long periods (extreme sadness) or we develop fears or phobias relating to the event, this may need treatment. If caught early, the prognosis is good and the RAF have specialists who can treat these illnesses. If you do suffer a reaction and it persists beyond 4 weeks or is very intense, consult your doctor or nurse.

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