Following the disaster, survivors will express a range of emotional reactions. Typical first reactions include (Ministry of Justice, n.d.):
- Disbelief and shock
- Disorientation and numbness
- Fear
- Reluctance to abandon or leave property
- Problems with concentration or memory
- Difficulty in making decisions
- Need for information
- Wanting to help other disaster survivors
Post incident responses may include:
- Frustration and anxiety
- Anger and suspicion
- Moodiness and irritability
- Apathy and depression
- Crying
- Fatigue, low energy
- Change in appetite
- Digestive problems
- Difficulty in sleeping
- Headaches
- Feelings of powerlessness and of being overwhelmed
- Guilt over being unable to prevent the disaster
- Disappointment with, and rejection of, outside help
- Isolation from family, friends, or social activities
- Domestic violence
Effects on children may include:
- A return to earlier behaviour, e.g., thumb sucking or bed wetting
- Clinging to parents, crying
- Reluctance to go to bed
- Nightmares
- Fantasies that the disaster never happened
- Inability to concentrate
- Withdrawal, immobility
