Emergency responders may react to stress in a variety of ways. Following is a list of common signs of stress among responders (MoH, 2007):
- Loss of spirit, hope
- Grandiose beliefs or ideas of what you can or should do
- Recklessness, ignoring policies and procedures
- Cynicism, despair
- Loss of ideals, not caring
- Self-medicating (with alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, drugs)
- Isolating self
- Irritability, anger at the organization
- Mistrust of colleagues, supervisors
- Inappropriate behaviour with survivors
