Dealing with Shock
Lack of Information
Last night when my man, David, came home from a night of drinking and fun, I realized I know very little about shock victims. He had been robbed at gun point. Normally this is enough to scare a person, however, David has an ego problem. He constantly proves himself and enjoys being the alpha male in every situation. Being frozen, unable to respond to a threat hurt him mentally.
Symptoms
- Dilated Pupils- Their eyes will become bloodshot, red, and wide. It would seem they are high or have been around a burning building. There isn't really much you can do to help their eyes.
- Skin Differences- They could break out in a cold sweat, or just start sweating. On their upper lip or they could have sweat drops on their back. Some people have their skin turn white, the color scared out of them.
- Shaking- Most people think of shock when they see a person shaking. Sometimes it is just one part of the body. Their hands are uncontrollable. Their legs won't stop moving. In my boyfriend's case, it was the lower half of his face. His chin, always shifting; his lips, constantly shaking; and his teeth, always clicking together. This is caused by the adrenaline rushing through their blood stream.
- Nausea- They will feel dizzy and messed up. Suggest they put their head down between their knees or have them lay down. This way they know where the ground is and can focus on that instead of their head spinning or shifting.
- Rapid Pulse- Adrenaline is pulsing through their veins. They are filled with panic and shock. They don't know how to deal with what occurred and are attempting to process what happened.
- Breathing- Their breathing will be labored or shallow. They could be panting like a dog or like a vampire faking to be human, three times a minute.
How can you help?
The symptoms will frighten you. Calm down. You are not the one in shock. Their body does not know how to cope. Their mental processing is not working properly, if you couldn't notice. The best you can do is prop their feet up, like on a pillow, and wait for their minds to accept what has happened. Keep a person around them for the most part of the next few days, around three should suffice. They will do things that is normally out of character for them. Just go along with them. They will not feel safe or secure unless they feel like they have become a new person or learned something from the situation.
