Psychological Effects of a School Shooting

Columbine High School in Colorado became famous in 1999 for all the wrong reasons. The school shootings there resulted in the deaths of a dozen students and one teacher; it also caused psychological damage -- not only for those who witnessed the rampage firsthand, but also for community members as well as children, parents and teachers across the country. School shootings create fear resulting in emotional and physical symptoms.

Emotional Effects

• Whether witnessed firsthand or through the media, school shootings can cause psychological trauma. People experiencing such trauma may constantly replay the event in their minds, seemingly unable to stop it. They experience flashbacks, particularly when similar events unfold, and nightmares. Victims often avoid situations that will remind them of the shooting, so they may resist returning to school, contacting classmates and participating in activities that they associate with the time of the event.

Physical Effects

• Psychological difficulties stemming from school shootings often manifest in physical symptoms such as headaches, sleeping difficulties and gastrointestinal problems. Both the trauma itself and these physical issues can interfere with daily life, as sufferers often have difficulty concentrating. The patterns of behavior created after traumas such as school shootings can exacerbate physical symptoms. For instance, anxiety can lead to poor eating habits, which in turn lead to stomach discomfort. The psychological trauma is, however, often the underlying cause.

Demographic Differences

• Young children often display regressive behavior, such as extreme attachment to their parents or thumbsucking. As teenagers, traumatized boys tend to act out aggressively, while girls often withdraw into depression. Teens may turn to alcohol or other substances to help them cope with the feelings of helplessness and guilt that often accompany surviving such trauma. One study indicates that males in particular may refuse to seek help because of social pressure to handle the trauma, even from friends and family members.

Coping

• People experiencing psychological problems after a school shooting should realize they are not alone. Talking about the experience and their reactions to it may help alleviate some of the anxiety and reduce emotional and physical symptoms, but neither should victims dwell on the event since overexposure may increase stress. Volunteering to help others affected by the shooting helps empower victims. Breaking the cycle between physical and emotional symptoms is an important step toward recovery as well. Eating well and engaging in stress-reducing activities such as moderate exercise are important.