After a traumatic experience, stress and anxiety are normal reactions. But for some women, the stress will not go away. When the traumatic event is a disaster affecting an entire community, such as the Gulf Coast hurricanes, acute stress and anxiety may take months to years to fade. Women are more likely than men to suffer from long-term effects. Learning more about traumatic stress will help you understand your feelings, and what questions to ask and what kinds of support are available.

Here are some tools and information to help you: