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--Strong emotional reaction or detachment
--Confusion, difficulty in making decisions
--Physical reactions: nausea, dizziness, intense fatigue, sleeping difficulties, muscle tremors.

Additional reactions during the first days and weeks may be:
--Persistent, intrusive recollections (flashbacks) of the incident, nightmares
--Tendency to avoid certain aspects of the incident (places, thoughts, emotions, activities)
--Hyper-alertness accompanied by a startle re ex, quick temper and sleeping problems.

All these stress reactions, however worrying they may be, are normal consequences of a critical inci-
dent and a high stress level. Even the most robust, experienced humanitarian personnel can experi-
ence them. No one is immune to stress, no matter how resilient. However, if symptoms are particu-
larly intense (acute) and persistent, or if suicidal thoughts and feelings are present, it is important to
seek out professional help so that the symptoms don’t worsen or develop into Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD).

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders

“When it happens to you there is no time for thinking, no time for praying. My brain went automatic,
rewinding quickly the life I just left behind…Then a process of dehumanization started that day…317
days of captivity…23 hours and 45 minutes of darkness every day…” Cochetel (2014)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can occur after exposure to extreme stressors (including on-

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