Reaction, impact and feelings

After a major event, it is important that you and those around you recognize that this event affects you and can affect your functioning. In a caring work environment, there is room to indicate that you have problems. Colleagues and managers can also be alert to this. Those are normal feelings about an abnormal event. In response to a major event, you can become unbalanced. Healthcare professionals in UMCs often expect themselves not to be bothered by these, sometimes daily experiences. In addition, the same event can be more stressful for one employee (at a certain time) than for another. This also depends on: the circumstances, how often something happens in a short time and on (personal) resilience.

During the event, you may feel like you are in a daze. It may be that you act automatically and close yourself off from the intense emotions that come with the event. Most people initially react adequately, and their actions are aimed at making everything run as smoothly as possible. At the same time, the situation can also be accompanied by all kinds of feelings such as powerlessness, bewilderment, fear and anger. It is good to know that it can happen to anyone: the newcomer to the profession but also the seasoned colleague.

Immediately after such an event, you may suffer from physical reactions such as shivering, a weak feeling in the knees, sweating and palpitations. Everything seems strange and unreal. You can't believe this happened to you. Maybe you can't think clearly or you think incoherently. You may have trouble talking about the event and feel powerless. Or, you remain very calm as if nothing is wrong. This can also differ per event and per person.

When you feel safe again, and the current threat is over, there is room again to think back to the event. Sometimes feelings of anxiety come up. The feelings come over you like a wave and can express themselves in different ways, for example in a crying fit or a tantrum. People also hide their emotions by staying very calm. This can also differ per event and per person.