Following the shooting at Michigan State University, a local health expert says it could take weeks, or even months for many to process the trauma.
Despite the fact that the shooter, 43-year-old Anthony McRae killed himself after fatally shooting three and wounding five at MSU Monday brings very little comfort for many that the threat is over.
That’s according Dr. Caelan Soma, the chief clinical officer at Starr Commonwealth.
She says, shootings like the one in Lansing can elicit an acute stress response for many of us, whether we had a student or loved one at Michigan State or not, OR are just Michiganders without a direct connection.
“You begin to relate to what those kids experienced last night and put yourself in their position,” Soma says. “Even if you are safe at home, understand the person is no longer a threat and logically know the danger has passed, you can take on a lot of those symptoms and reactions as well.”
Those stress hormones can continue to roil in our bodies for weeks and have little to do with logic.
“Telling yourself that the police have the shooter, he can’t hurt anyone anymore, that everyone is safe and lockdown is over is not helpful,” Soma notes. “What you have to do is help your body return to a state of balance.”
Healing, she says, comes back to connecting with people – hearing the voice of a loved one, spending time with friends, being able to discuss what happened and how you are feeling and then hearing others are feeling the same way.
