The symptoms of trauma, loss or grief can be debilitating. Feelings of despondency, anxiety, and emptiness are not unusual. One may even feel a loss of emotions, numbness or a sense of avoidance, avoiding all thoughts or feelings related to the trauma, loss or grief. It is also a possibility to experience difficulty concentrating, and sleeping because of an exaggerated sense of wariness.

Symptoms of trauma related stress can be recurring thoughts or dreams/nightmares about the event, flashbacks of the event, insomnia, loss in appetite, increase of appetite, anxiety and fear, feeling on edge, guilt, depression, low energy, memory problems, feeling unfocused, feeling overwhelmed, unexplained anger or suspicion, a sense of doom, withdrawing, crying spontaneously, alcohol and drug dependency, and feeling protective.