Psychological trauma normal in weeks after mass shooting, experts say

It’s been more than two weeks since a shooter killed 58 people and wounded 546 others at a country music concert outside Mandalay Bay.

But concertgoers or members of the Las Vegas community who are still processing the event and feeling shaken shouldn’t worry: Experts say that’s normal.

“What happens in our brain is an automatic stress response. Whether you were hurt or not, the brain still (expends) energy,” said Shelby Buckles, a Las Vegas counselor who has consoled shooting survivors.

Symptoms can vary, but can include avoidance of triggering sounds or images or hypervigilance, Buckles said.

People might also separate themselves from loved ones or lose interest in normal activities, said Michelle Paul, director of UNLV’s mental health clinic, The PRACTICE.

You don’t have to have attended the concert or seen the shooting to be affected. Anyone can have a reaction, Paul said.

People who tend to be more emotional might have a stronger reaction, Buckles said.

Buckles, a Las Vegas native, has experienced hypervigilance herself. She went to see Janet Jackson perform at Mandalay Bay on Sunday and said she immediately searched the venue for exits and seized on the heightened security at the entrance.

“I was sitting there and I just started thinking about how it would probably be hard for someone who was at the Route 91 Harvest festival,” Buckles said.

At the one-month mark, people who are still suffering symptoms should consider seeking help for post-traumatic stress disorder. Common manifestations include flashbacks and nightmares, feeling guilty or numb, chills, tension headaches and shaking, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states.

“Most people report feeling better within three months after a traumatic event,” according to the CDC. People with PTSD might also have panic attacks, feel depressed or turn to drugs for relief.

Therapy can help ease the symptoms, either finding a support system or working with a clinician to process feelings, said Paul. Sometimes, medication like anti-depressants and anti-anxiety pills might be necessary — though they should be used as a last resort, she said.

Will the symptoms go away? Over time, they may, Paul said.

“There will be a scar, but scars can fade,” she said. Those who hadn’t experienced a traumatic event before the shooting are more likely to move on, though days like anniversaries can be triggering.

And for some, the trauma might ignite personal growth.

“I had a period of time in my life where it was painful, and very, very difficult,” Paul said. “Now, when stress comes my way, I’m much more confident in my ability to weather it.”

Contact Jessie Bekker at jbekker@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4563. Follow @jessiebekks on Twitter.