Friends, please know that you do not have to directly experience trauma to be affected by it. Acute Stress Disorder, PTSD, & their variants work in complex ways. If you are struggling to sleep, concentrate, or cope after watching what happened Wednesday, reach out for help.

I learned this the hard way after conducting my dissertation research & witnessing the aftermath of horrific events. I was hesitant to reach out because *I* wasn't a direct victim of violence & others needed help far more than me. I was wrong. Witnessing trauma hurts, too.

There are great resources you can access free of charge. @distressline is one: https://twitter.com/distressline/status/1346928242284847110

You don't even have to talk out loud if that's too much to think about. @CrisisTextLine provides free support via text: https://twitter.com/crisistextline/status/1346960852906373121

If you or someone you love are in deep crisis or having suicidal thoughts, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is there for you, 24/7. Call 1-800-273-8255.

Your life is valuable. Times are tough right now. We will get through them together. You are not alone.

Veterans, if this is stirring up painful memories or new trauma, you can get specialized help from people who get it here: https://twitter.com/distressline/status/1347255704692908034