• Headaches, aches and pains
• Digestive problems --upset stomach, nausea, weight loss or gain
• Dizziness, shaking, rubbery legs
• Fatigue, heart pounding
• Changes in how you look and feel

• Guilt
• Mood swings
• May feel angry or afraid
• Depression
• Difficulty sleeping
• Nightmares
• Anxiety, nervousness
• Withdrawal from family, friends, colleagues
• Restlessness
• Unusual sense of vulnerability

• Call us for support.
• Expect the incident to bother you.
• Maintain a good diet with exercise.
• Take time for leisure activities.
• Spend time with family,
  friends and co-workers.
• Get extra help, if necessary.
• Learn as much as you can about CIS.

• Think you are "crazy".
• Overuse alcohol.
• Use legal/illegal substances to cope.
• Withdraw from family and peers.
• Automatically stay away from work.
• Use off-duty time for training
  immediately after the incident.
• Look for easy answers to explain the incident.
• Have unrealistic expectations for recovery.

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• Encourage those affected to talk about how they are feeling about the incident.
  
  
• Tell those affected how you feel; that you are sorry they have been hurt, etc.
  
  
• It is okay to remind the person that their confusing feelings are normal.
  
  
• Don't attempt to reassure anyone that everything is ok. IT IS NOT!
  
  
• Don't try to impose your explanation on why this has happened to your family member or friend.
  
  
• Don't tell him or her that you know how they feel. You don't. Often such attempts are really aimed at relieving your own anxiety about how you feel about the incident.
  
  
• Be willing to say nothing. Just being there is often the biggest help.
  
  
• Don't be afraid to encourage the survivor to get post-trauma counselling from a specially trained mental health professional.
  
  
• Go to any court hearings, investigations or meetings with insurance companies, etc., which relate to the event.
  
  
• Don't be afraid to ask how someone is doing. This provides the opportunity for your friend or family member to tell you as much or as little as needed.
  
  
• Remember that as a person who cares for the survivor of a traumatic event, you are a CO-SURVIVOR. You must expect that you will also experience post-trauma consequences.
  

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• Encourage your family member or friend to talk about the incident. Don't try to talk them out of their feelings but do listen sympathetically --even if you don't understand their reactions to what happened to them.
  
  
• Be sensitive, responsive and patient to their needs and requests. They will probably need some time to resolve their own feelings.
  
  
• Be alert to unusual behaviour that gets worse over time, or doesn't seem to be getting better. If any reactions persist over one or two days, or are strong enough to cause you concern, encourage your family member or friend to seek help, for example an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) or the OFAAA's CISM Program.
  
  
• Take care of yourself by expressing your feelings and concerns. Help is also available to the family through the EAP. If you prefer, contact your family doctor or other counselling professional.
  

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