If you need emergency help immediately, please call 999, ask for the Police, then Mountain Rescue. This page is about getting help if you've been involved in or have witnessed a Mountain Rescue incident. Being involved in or witnessing a Mountain Rescue incident where you or someone has been searched for and/or rescued, can lead to difficult feelings as a result of trauma. It's important to seek support and professional help if you are struggling.
Everyone reacts differently to traumatic events, and your reaction will be personal to you. However, after a traumatic event, it is common for people to experience some of the following things:
Memories, dreams and flashbacks
You might have distressing memories, dreams or nightmares about the event. When you are awake, you might also re-live the event as if it is happening again. This is known as a flashback, and can feel completely real.
Feeling upset when reminded of the event
You might feel emotionally overwhelmed when you are near where the event happened or in an environment that reminds you of the event. You might not always realise when these emotions have been triggered in you, or what has triggered them.
Avoiding feelings and situations
You might avoid memories, thoughts, feelings, things, people and places associated with the event. This is sometimes called ‘avoidance’.
Loss of memory
You might be unable to remember parts of the event. If you try to remember parts of the event, you might start to feel disconnected from yourself or the world around you. This is called dissociation.
Difficult feelings
These can include:
- Negative thoughts about yourself, others or the world.
- Blaming yourself or others for what happened.
- Intense fear, anxiety, panic, horror, anger, guilt or shame. You might feel angry with other people or yourself, even if neither of you have done anything wrong.
- Finding it very hard to feel happiness, satisfaction or love towards others.
Changes in your behaviour
These can include:
- Not doing or being interested in things you used to enjoy.
- Feeling detached and distant from other people.
- Acting impulsively, or in ways that are risky or self-destructive. For example, going into potentially dangerous or violent environments.
- Being angry and aggressive towards people or things.
- Being hypervigilant, ‘on guard’ or easily startled by noises or sudden movements.
What about PTSD?
Some of these symptoms are also found in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or complex PTSD. However, having these symptoms does not automatically mean that someone has PTSD or complex PTSD. It is really important to recognise that most people who experience a traumatic event do not develop PTSD. In fact, most people who experience a traumatic event find that the negative effects go away over time.
Please take some time to read through more information from the Royal College of Psychiatrists:
Bystander advice
When someone experiences stress and trauma indirectly by observing or being closely connected with someone else's trauma, it's called vicarious trauma. This is a recognised form of secondary traumatic stress that can affect anyone who witnesses a difficult or distressing event.
Symptoms
Bystanders might experience a range of emotional and psychological symptoms, including:
- Feelings of guilt, helplessness, or hopelessness
- Anxiety, stress, and depression
- Difficulty concentrating or sleeping
- Flashbacks or nightmares about the event
- Feeling emotionally numb or detached
- Changes in how they perceive the world or their own meaning in life
A common experience is "bystander guilt," where individuals feel bad about what happened or wish they had intervened. This is a natural response, and it is important to recognise that witnessing trauma is not the same as causing it.
In some cases, witnessing trauma can lead to symptoms similar to PTSD, including intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and avoidance behaviours. Some bystanders may experience symptoms such as intrusive memories, nightmares, and dissociation. These are serious symptoms that deserve professional attention.
Seeking Help
If you are struggling with the effects of a traumatic event, it's important to reach out for support. Talking to a GP, therapist or counsellor, joining a support group, or simply confiding in a trusted friend or family member can be helpful. Mental health professionals can assess your symptoms, provide support, and recommend appropriate treatment options, such as therapy or medication.