Coping After Trauma: When to Ask for Help
After a traumatic event, problems may come and go. It's important to know when to ask for help. If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the following problems, please ask for help:
- Eating or sleeping too much or too little
- Pulling away from people and things
- Having low or no energy
- Feeling numb or like nothing matters
- Having unexplained aches and pains
- Feeling helpless or hopeless
- Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than you should
- Feeling unusually confused or forgetful; on edge, angry, or upset; or worried and scared
- Yelling or fighting with family and friends
- Having thoughts and memories you can't get out of your head
- Thinking of hurting or killing yourself or someone else
- Unable to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school
If these problems are making it hard to get things done or get through your day, or if they are getting worse, please call your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) or 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (formerly the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) at Link opens in a new windowhttps://988lifeline.org. (The old Lifeline number 800-273-TALK [800-273-8255] will continue to work and redirect you to 988 in the meantime also.)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMS). (2011; Revised 2023 [Ed.]). Having trouble coping? (Pub. No. CMHS-SVP-0155) [B. Schuette, Ed.]. Retrieved January 5, 2023, from https://store.samhsa.gov