Anxiety and Fear - The Mental Health After-Effects of a National Tragedy

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The Mental Health After-Effects of a National Tragedy

Some of us will experience intense, prolonged feelings of anxiety and fear just from watching the Virginia Tech shooting on tv news

by Harry Croft, MD
Medical Director of HealthyPlace.com

Following a nationally publicized traumatic incident like the shootings at Virginia Tech, it is common for those actually involved in the shooting, or those closest to them, to experience a wide range of emotions; from severe helplessness, hopelessness and horror, to anger, and for some, even guilt of having survived the ordeal. But even those of us who only experience the events as spectators from afar (through news reports) may be dismayed, confused or frightened by the emotions we experience.

Some spectators will experience some of the emotions listed above. Many may be bothered by symptoms of fearfulness or depression. Others may be confused that they are not experiencing any unusual emotions and may wonder why they are “unmoved by the incident.” Still others may experience anger or frustration at the “shooter” or his family, the people in charge for not responding sooner, the laws regarding gun possession, the mental health system for failing to prevent the tragedy, or society itself for creating the conditions the shooter experienced. All of these thoughts and feelings, as well as a multitude of others not mentioned, are understandable. They appear on top of the underlying layer of thoughts of disbelief, frustration, fear, and of sadness and grief.

Who is susceptible to long-term fear from a tragic event?

For most of us, time will dampen and ultimately remove the most intense of these feelings, but for some people, the feelings of fear become prolonged. The most vulnerable amongst these long-term sufferers are those with pre-existing mental illness; especially those with one of the various anxiety disorders and those with substance abuse problems.

Anxiety is explained to be inappropriate or overdone feelings of fear, apprehension and worry. I explain to my patients that anxiety is best thought of as a severe case of the “what ifs.” What if this? What if that? What if, what if, what if??? It is an ongoing and unrealistic state of concern for future events.

If you’re experiencing an anxiety disorder, you may find it difficult to control the worrisome thoughts and feelings, and the anxiety is accompanied by behavioral symptoms:

restless, feeling keyed up or on edge, often with trouble getting restful sleep
withdrawal and isolation

physiological symptoms:

heart racing
trouble breathing
stomach problems

emotional symptoms:

irritability,
crying easily
sadness
fear of disease or death

To be a disorder, these symptoms must bother the person significantly (cause distress) and/or interfere with their ability to function on an everyday basis. There are a variety of anxiety disorders like phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder and post traumatic stress disorder, but the hallmark symptom of an anxiety disorder is inappropriate or overdone fear, worry and apprehension.

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Last updated 04/07

The Mental Health After-Effects of a National Tragedy

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