Reactions to stressful or traumatic events are considered:

• A. Abnormal
• B. Not normal
• C. Neutral
• D. Normal

Answer: (D)

Reactions to stressful or traumatic events are generally considered normal responses. After a trauma, it’s common to experience a mix of emotions—shock, numbness, sadness, anger, and fear—and to notice sleep, appetite, or concentration changes, or temporary withdrawal. These responses reflect the body's natural stress reaction and are typically understandable in the minutes, days, and weeks following the event. They don’t indicate a mental illness by themselves and often lessen with time. Only if distress is unusually intense, lasts well beyond the typical recovery period, or severely disrupts daily functioning would these reactions be viewed as abnormal or suggest a disorder.