The extreme stress of traumatic events causes human beings to react in either a positive or negative manner. Coping becomes especially difficult in situations where the individual is incapable of solving the problem at hand. While some coping skills work better than others and some people possess qualities that enable them to deal more effectively with stress, surviving an ordeal that destroys a belief in human goodness or a sense of security remains with an individual ever afterward. This paper examines the causes of, symptoms of, and reactions to extreme stress. Also presented are the prolonged effects of stress on Vietnam combat veterans, Holocaust survivors, and people who work with trauma victims. 5 pgs. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
