Newport Beach Location

For the first week brain chemicals are just trying to get back to normal. So long as you eat and sleep a little more each day, that's a good sign. Drink plenty of water and do not get dehydrated. Take care of yourself.  Go to our page with Free Stress Tips, watch our videos.  They are basic but a good start.  If you need more personalized help, please call us – we are hosting a survivors group and offering free counseling to survivors of the Vegas attack. 

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Immediately Following the Event
1. Fear/terror/panic.  2. Shock, disbelief, denial.  3. Confusion and disorganization.  4. Survivor's guilt: Gladness at being alive, but subsequent guilt.  5. Recoil.  6. Catatonic.  7. Hyperactivity.  8. Anger.  9. Frustration at inability to do more.  10. Time expansion (everything in slow motion).  11. Tunnel vision.  12. Physical reactions: shaking, chest pains, sweating, nausea, heart rate increases.  14. "Honeymoon phase": may be filled with excitement and adrenalin.

First Few Days
1. Avoiding the media.  2. Mood swings; range of emotions.  3. Guilt about role during event.  4. Seeking information.  5. Anger at the system and the victims.
6. Sadness and grief about the victims and family members.  7. Wondering about sanity: "Am I crazy?"  8. Other tragedies triggered.  9. Fear; "This could happen to me."  10. Wanting to talk, talk, talk.  11. Feeling very alone; i.e., "No one understands."  12. Trouble sleeping.  13. Nightmares and recurrent dreams.  14. Intrusive recollections.

First Month
1. Increased vigilance and startle response.  2. Avoidance of associated events.  3. Action directed at preventing event from happening.  4. Impatient with family and friends.  5. Inability to concentrate.  6. Difficulty sleeping.

There is Hope; Recovery
1. A new confidence in yourself.  2. Feeling "sadder but wiser" about self, others, and life.  3. Greater appreciation for family, friends, life  4. Begin taking new action based on traumatic experience: (help others, take practical action, life changes)

Factors that can determine the Severity of Reactions
Suddenness of event. Duration. Timing. Ability to understand in retrospect. Extent of carnage or injury. Physical proximity and sensory involvement.  Severity of event. Involvement with the victim and/or Previous life stressors.

How to know when Professional Help Might Be Needed
If the following symptoms occur persistently for at least one month after the event, you may want to call for counseling:

1. The traumatic event is persistently re-experienced (Recurrent dreams, Feelings that event is recurring, Intrusive recollections).
2. A persistent avoidance of events associated with the traumatic event.
3. A general sense of "numbing" and of feeling estranged from others.
4. Persistent symptoms of increased arousal, such as difficulty sleeping, increased vigilance, and continuing to be startled easily.

We are here to help!