| Defining Traumatic Stress | Defining Critical Incident Stress (CIS) |

Defining Critical Incident Stress (CIS)

Stress arising from a critical incident is a normal response to an extraordinary occurence. Witnessing or being part of a work place accident, robbery, kidnapping, or a natural disaster may result in critical incident stress (CIS). Being part of such an unexpected event impacts a person at a deep level - how they relate to others, their thoughts and feelings.

A traumatic event disrupts one's belief that their world is safe. Trust can be difficult to maintain even in relationships which were previously supportive.

Also, workers (such as first responders, nurses, doctors) who are constantly exposed to trauma may find that at some point the cumulative effect of these traumas may trigger a critical incident or vicarious trauma response which needs to be addressed in counselling.

Signs and symptoms of CIS

• Reliving or re-experiencing the event
• Flashbacks
• Dreams which incorporate a portion or all of the event
• Feeling numb
• Avoiding reminders of the incident
• Change in sleep pattern
• Excessive irritability, agitation
• Hyperarousal, hyper vigilance

Other symptoms:

• Depression
• Avoiding activities that formerly brought pleasure