FLORIDA – As investigators continue to look into why a man drove a pickup truck down Bourbon Street killing several and another man who blew up a Tesla in front of a hotel in Las Vegas, the images remain haunting even for people who weren’t there.
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The early morning hours of New Year’s Day were celebratory and full of hope then there was Shamsud-Din Jabbar, who loaded a pickup truck and drove down Bourbon Street, barreling over dozens of people and killing at least 14; before getting into a shootout with police.
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Another man, Matthew Livelsberger blew up a Tesla truck before taking his own life. Now some people are worried about what will happen next.
“It’s a very normal reaction to a very abnormal situation,” Christine Cauffield, CEO of LSF Health Systems said.
Cauffield added that those images don’t just go away. It’s trauma. She said their access care line has been getting calls since the two terrorist attacks occurred. How do you cope? One local doctor said you may need to turn off the TV. Cauffield said there are ways to cope:
- Limit exposure to media because it can increase anxiety and fear
- Get a support system of friends, family and or a health professional to have someone to talk to
- Warns that if you don’t get help you could live in fear of leaving your home. It’s a condition called agoraphobia
Some people are afraid to go to public places after the most recent terror attacks. News4JAX Crime and Safety analyst Tom Hackney said situational awareness will help you deal with anxiety and being prepared.
“...having a plan, having a discussion with your family about if this happens then this is what we should do, being aware of places to go, somewhere to hide, an easy way in and an easy way out and kind of keeping your head on a swivel,” Tom Hackney said. “Because as life goes on there are ways to live your life with peace of mind and awareness.”
If you need help you can call right now for help: LSF has free help to cope at 877-229-9098.