Know about TSR

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Toni Hornbostel
SCOTT AFB, Ill. --  What is traumatic stress response
(TSR)? It is a program that is
comprised of trained team members
who are the coordinators to a
response that was initiated by unit
leaders, in which the TSR team
engages in providing services to
individuals and groups who may have
or who have had direct exposure to a
potentially traumatic event. 

These teams provide pre-exposure
preparation training, consultation to
unit commanders and leaders,
screening, psychological first aid,
education, and referrals. 

What is a Traumatic Event? A
traumatic event is the direct exposure
or personal experience of an
individual who is involved in an actual
or threatened death or serious injury
or other threat to one's physical
integrity; learning about unexpected or
violent death, serious harm, or threat
of death or injury experienced by a
family member or other close
associate. Traumatic events that are
experienced directly include, but are
not limited to, military combat, violent
personal assault (sexual assault,
physical attack, robbery, mugging),
being kidnapped, being taken
hostage, terrorist attack, torture,
incarceration as a prisoner of war,
natural or manmade disaster, severe
automobile accident, or Traumatic Stress Response f/k/a Critical Incident
Stress Management diagnosed with a life-threatening
illness. 

Witnessed events include, but
are not limited to observing the
serious injury or unnatural death of
another person due to a violent
personal assault, serious accident, or
serious injury experienced by a family
member or close friend; learning
about the sudden, unexpected death
of a family member or a close friend,
or learning that one's child or close
loved one has a life-threatening
disease. 

As you can see by the listing above,
each and every one of us has
probably dealt with one of the issues
above, and each of us deals with
stress differently than our fellow
airman. The key to dealing with these
stressful issues is to first recognize and
identify them, and then get assistance
if you need it. Your body has a way
of reacting to stress, and you need to
know what the typical and normal
symptoms are. 

What are Some of the Typical and
Normal Stress Responses? Feeling
keyed up, on edge, and restless;
hyper-vigilance; exaggerated startle
response; irritability or outbursts of
anger; sadness or crying; fatigue;
difficulty concentrating; preoccupation
with the traumatic event; muscle
tension; sleep disturbances (difficulty
falling or staying asleep, or restless,
unsatisfying sleep); appetite
disturbances (forgetting to eat or
drink). 

Effective Strategies for Coping with
Stress: Talking about your feelings
with others; attention to the basics of
sleep, diet, exercise, social and
spiritual needs; and helping others
who are in need. 

As always, keep an ear and eye open
for any serious signs and symptoms
going on with your co-worker, friend,
or family member. Some signs not to
ignore: a persistent loss of interest in
friends, family, and activities; feelings
of detachment from others; unable to
have loving feelings; flashbacks;
feeling as if the traumatic event were
recurring; feelings of worthlessness or
excessive guilt; or a depressed mood
most of the day or nearly every day
with persistent crying; or feelings of
emptiness or sadness. 

If you are interested in finding out
more about the TSR program or need
additional resource information, you
can contact the 932d Medical Squadron.