Physical reactions

1. Exhaustion
2. Nausea/vomiting
3. Weakness
4. Difficulty breathing
5. Chest pains
6. Rapid heart rate
7. Headaches
8. Dry mouth/always thirsty
9. Elevated blood pressure
10. Fainting/dizziness
11. Exacerbation of allergy problems
12. Symptoms of shock

Cognitive reactions

1. Blaming attitude
2. Confusion
3. Reduced attention span
4. Flashbacks
5. Poor concentration/loss of confidence
6. Negative self-talk/loss of confidence
7. Decreased awareness
8. Troubled thoughts
9. Nightmares
10. Easily distracted
11. Short-term memory disturbance
12. Time/place/person distortion

Emotional reactions

1. Frustration
2. Strong need for recognition of what they experienced
3. Anxiety
4. Guilt/feeling strongly for victims
5. Sense of loss
6. Anger
7. Denial
8. Fear of loss of control
9. Irritability/agitation
10. Depression
11. Feeling overwhelmed
12. Feeling isolated
13. Loss of emotional control

Behavioural reactions

1. Emotional outbursts
2. Change in activity level
3. Disturbed sleep
4. Increase in smoking
5. Easily startled/ hyper-vigilance
6. Antisocial behaviour
7. Withdrawal
8. Change in eating habits (increase or decrease in food consumption)
9. Difficulty relaxing
10. Fidgety/restless
11. Increased use of alcohol and other drugs
12. Change in sex drive

Source: Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Program, Canada Border Services Agency - Pacific Region: CISM Mass Event Response Plan 2006 (PDF)