A critical incident is any sudden or unexpected traumatic event that affects people’s emotional lives, feelings of safety, and ability to cope. It might be a robbery or assault that occurred in the workplace, a sudden accident or death at work, the murder or suicide of a co-worker, or domestic abuse that impacts the workplace. Floods, fires, hurricanes, acts of terrorism, and airplane crashes are other examples of critical incidents.

If you have recently experienced a critical incident, you may be feeling a number of emotions. You may be feeling sad, upset, afraid, angry, or alone. You may have trouble concentrating, or feel overwhelmed by your emotions. All of these feelings are normal reactions to traumatic events. What’s important to remember at this difficult time is that there are steps you can take to seek support for yourself and find help.

If you have experienced a critical incident or traumatic event, you may be affected for days, weeks, or even months afterwards. At first, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed by the event. You may have difficulty sleeping, feel distracted, feel afraid or unsafe. You may experience symptoms of stress. The signs and symptoms of stress can be physical, mental, or emotional.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important that you take steps to help yourself cope and recover.