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Sierra Tucson Explains Emotional Effects of Recent Tragedy

By Staff Writer

Tucson, AZ (Vocus/PRWEB) January 12, 2011 -- After the recent shooting tragedy that occurred in Tucson, Arizona, the clinical staff of Sierra Tucson, a local, internationally renowned psychiatric hospital, offers help in coping with emotional trauma.

As defined by the U.S. National Institute of General Medical Sciences, “Psychological trauma is an emotional or psychological injury, usually resulting from an extremely stressful or life-threatening situation.”

Robert Johnson, D.O., Sierra Tucson’s Medical Director, states, "Any incident that results in feelings of anxiety, fear, or loss can cause us to feel emotionally unbalanced. A traumatic event often brings up hurts from the past – even if we thought the pain was resolved."

The effects of Saturday’s incident can range from minimal to extreme emotional responses. “People are certainly experiencing increased fear and are looking for reassurance," says Grief Coordinator Liz Dampsey, M.A., RSMT.

"Some can have difficulty eating, sleeping, or engaging in their normal routine; others can feel shock or numbness," Dampsey said. "Even those not directly affected by the incident could be experiencing emotional trauma. A person with unresolved grief may respond with more intense emotions than someone else who was actually there. For many people, Saturday’s occurrence brought back memories of other traumatic events.”

Members of the community may be feeling “helpless, alone, irrational, or unsafe,” according to Dampsey. “How many moms go to the supermarket on Saturday morning? Now they might not feel as safe. Many in our community and the entire nation are feeling a loss of security.”

So what can those affected by emotional trauma do? “Acknowledge what you’re feeling, and know that your reactions are normal,” says Dampsey. “Do what you can to take care of yourself – eat right and get enough sleep. Importantly, connect with your family and friends, and reach out for professional help if you need it.”

Look for opportunities offered in the community to help individuals heal from emotional trauma, such as community stress debriefings, grief groups, and support offered by hospitals, churches, etc. Sierra Tucson's staff encourages parents to talk to their kids about the situation and make it clear that it’s okay to ask questions.

“Many people dealing with grief and trauma have a fear of criticism or ridicule if they speak out about their feelings, but if we have a secure attachment - someone we can confide in - we can safely share our emotions,” asserts Dampsey. “You can have a family of five and each person can have a unique way of processing the situation, but they need to process it. Unfortunately, our culture doesn’t teach us how to deal with our emotions, but we need to. Just taking time to talk with someone about your thoughts and feelings is a good place to start.”

Dr. Johnson states, “It is not uncommon for people who have been exposed to traumatic events to continue to struggle with physical symptoms long after their injuries have healed. Even those who weren’t physically injured can subsequently experience headaches, muscle aches, diarrhea, abdominal pain, etc. This occurs because of the nature of how our brains are affected by trauma.”

“We tend to remember events that, good or bad, are associated with heightened emotions, alertness, or arousal,” says Dr. Johnson. “This conscious memory is coupled with an unconscious, physical, ‘procedural’ memory. This is the type of memory that serves physical habits and learned skills, such as artistic, musical, and athletic talents."

"Procedural memories, such as how one’s body responded during a traumatic event, can become quickly and deeply conditioned as a result of the high level of emotional arousal associated with that experience," Dr. Johnson continued. "Those responses can subsequently get triggered by either memories of the event, familiar stimuli reminiscent of the event, dreams, or eventually even from nonspecific arousal.”

“This can, unfortunately, become a self-sustaining reality, due to a process called ‘kindling’ in a neurological pathway that combines the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex. The good news is that there are a variety of powerful and effective therapies for both emotional and physical trauma-related symptoms,” Johnson adds, referring to the integration of proven and emerging therapies offered by Sierra Tucson and other professionals.

Sierra Tucson's comprehensive treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder includes group therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Equine-Assisted Therapy, Somatic Experiencing®, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

Experts agree that when someone starts to engage in self-destructive or addictive behaviors or show symptoms of depression, these are signs that more intensive treatment may be necessary. “When things begin to feel intolerable and you don’t know how to cope, seek help,” advises Dr. Johnson.

Sierra Tucson has been a longstanding national resource for those seeking treatment or needing referrals. In addition to the inpatient Trauma Recovery Program, the hospital offers outpatient assessment services for those who need a thorough evaluation for issues such as trauma, depression, chemical dependency, etc.

As a leader in the behavioral health industry, Sierra Tucson provides cutting-edge treatment, collaborates with the best clinicians in the country, and provides and sponsors trainings to enrich the behavioral health field. In June 2011 Sierra Tucson will sponsor the Trauma Resiliency Model training provided by the Trauma Resource Institute.

This is exactly the type of training that professionals need to ideally work with those who have experienced traumatic events such as the recent shooting.

About Sierra Tucson

Since 1983, Sierra Tucson has provided compassionate care and clinical excellence. Multi-licensed as a psychiatric hospital and residential treatment center, Sierra Tucson excels at treating coexisting disorders and has developed internationally acclaimed programs for Chemical Dependency, Eating Disorders, Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Pain Management, and Sexual and Trauma Recovery.

Sierra Tucson has been awarded dual Accreditation by The Joint Commission and Pain Program Accreditation by the American Academy of Pain Management.

Sierra Tucson is a member of CRC Health Group, the most comprehensive network of specialized behavioral care services in the nation. CRC offers the largest array of personalized treatment options, allowing individuals, families, and professionals to choose the most appropriate treatment setting for their behavioral, addiction, weight management, and therapeutic education needs.

CRC is committed to making its services widely and easily available while maintaining a passion for delivering advanced treatment. Since 1995, CRC programs have helped individuals and families reclaim and enrich their lives. http://www.CRChealth.com