Trauma doesn’t always roar; it can arrive quietly, shattering a person’s sense of safety, clarity, and control. Sometimes, it’s an explosion; other times, it’s a slow unraveling. Whether someone narrowly avoids a car crash, witnesses workplace violence, receives devastating personal news, or breaks down during a moment of intense overwhelm, the nervous system reacts fast and not always rationally.
Commonly, a person who experiences a situation outside their realm of normal — or one that triggers a previous traumatic event — may feel emotionally overwhelmed, confused, and unsure of what to do.
In the immediate aftermath of an employee crisis that generates upset because of being directly or indirectly exposed to an event — whether an act of violence, a near accident, emotional loss, or verbal abuse — a person may feel rattled. In such cases, the brain can feel like scrambled eggs, affecting how the person feels, thinks, and behaves. Humans are resilient, and often, time is the number one psychological healer. It is normal for a person to be out of sorts within the first 24-72 hours after a significant emotional event.
One approach that can be helpful after a person is exposed to an upsetting event is to engage in a brief, educational conversation to normalize the situation and guide them on what to do and what not to do to help their mind and body safely process and move past the occurrence. Called critical incident stress defusing, it is an evidence-based model designed to educate. The goal is to stabilize a person with a plan to give them time to process their feelings and set criteria for what is normal and what may benefit them in getting professional help to mitigate the risk of mental harm.
Taking a trauma-informed approach to defusing can help a person understand what is happening or could happen to their nervous system over the next 24-72 hours. This understanding can inform the creation of a stay-safe plan and ensure they have access to appropriate support for the next few days. Think of it as emotional first aid, presenting a compassionate and structured micro-intervention to help someone begin to reclaim a sense of control and ensure they’re not alone.
Everyday crisis situations that may require defusing
Not all trauma appears the same, and not every crisis demands immediate attention. Some sneak in through daily life and overwhelm people in ways that are hard to put into words. The following are situations where a defusing response may be crucial:
A team member explodes in anger or tears without warning—Emotional dysregulation can stem from a buildup of stress or unresolved trauma.
Witnessing or being involved in a workplace accident—Even near misses can trigger shock, panic, or dissociation.
Receiving news of a sudden loss or serious illness—Grief reactions can be immediate and disorienting.
Exposure to graphic content or traumatic stories at work—Especially in caregiving, emergency response, or investigative fields.
Experiencing threats, harassment, or violence—Safety breaches destabilize trust and bodily integrity.
Surviving a natural disaster, fire, or sudden displacement—Physical and psychological safety are disrupted simultaneously.
Each of these moments can displace someone from their baseline sense of emotional well-being and perceived psychological safety. The first goal is to teach the person through a trauma-informed lens to recognize that emotional responses to a situation are normal reactions to abnormal events.
Five-step trauma-informed approach to defusing crisis impacts
The following five steps serve as a guide, not clinical advice, for managing trauma. The goal is to help a person who has experienced an upsetting situation create a stay-safe plan to normalize what they are feeling with guardrails to mitigate risk and allow their mind and body to process the situation with clear supports:
Step 1: Secure and stabilize
The environment comes first. Move the individual to a quiet, private, and safe location.
Safety is physical and emotional. Ensure the person is away from the scene of trauma and is not overwhelmed by crowds, noise, or chaos.
Begin with presence. No need for explanations; your calm, grounded demeanor is the first stabilizing force. Speak slowly and gently. Avoid urgent tones.
Offer reassurance: “You’re safe now. We’re going to take this one moment at a time.”
Immediate Coaching for the next 72 hours to help their mind and body heal: Avoid caffeine, sugar, alcohol, and drugs. These can worsen nervous system reactivity. Focus on hydration with clean water, fruits, protein (e.g., nuts or cheese), and vegetables, as well as walking and social support systems.
Step 2: Normalize the response
Trauma disrupts the body’s systems. This is expected, not abnormal. Common physiological and emotional reactions include:
| Symptom | Why It Happens |
|---|---|
| Loss of appetite | Stress chemicals slow digestion |
| Memory lapses | Cortisol affects memory formation |
| Restlessness or confusion | Fight-flight-freeze responses |
| Sudden crying or emotional release | Nervous system overload |
| Numbness or detachment | A defense to protect against overwhelm |
Let the person know these reactions are normal responses to abnormal events. Say something like: “What you’re feeling might be confusing, but it’s normal. Your body is doing its best to process what just happened.”
Step 3: Guide toward safe support
Trauma and stressful events can isolate people. It is wise to stay socially connected and leverage a trusted support network. If feeling alone, leverage employee and family assistance programs. The following are actions to provide direction to help a person process their feelings. They may struggle with decision-making, so guidance and structure can help reinforce a support action plan:
- Ask: “Who would you feel safe being with right now?”
- Offer to help arrange transportation or communication with a family member, friend, or support person.
- Ensure they get there. Do not leave it to chance. Follow up and confirm their arrival.
- Share Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) or support hotlines clearly and calmly.
- Let them know it’s okay if they want to talk—and it’s okay if they don’t.
Crises don’t always require professional mental health support, but they always need trusted social connections. People tend to heal and stabilize more effectively with those they feel safe with.
Step 4: Develop a self-care plan
Develop a straightforward, actionable plan for the next 24-72 hours that provides clear direction. Write this out with the person and have them repeat it back; do not assume they will recall it. When possible, ensure the individual is handed off to a trusted support person, such as a spouse, who can be with them to help them feel safe and supported.
Example stay-safe action plan:
- Sleep: Get at least 8 hours of sleep.
- Nutrition: Focus on small portions and regular protein-rich meals, minimizing sugar intake.
- Hydration: Drink plenty of water, avoiding caffeinated drinks if possible.
- Movement: Gentle walks; avoid rigorous exercise.
- Limit screen time and information overload.
- Spend time with loved ones.
- Engage in enjoyable activities that are easy to do and bring positive emotions.
- Spend time with a pet, if you have one—great therapy.
Encourage the person that emotional resets can take a few days and are a natural form of physical and emotional healing. Coaching tip: “Like when you get a bodily injury, your nervous system needs recovery time. Leverage your stay-safe plan to help you feel steady. If things do not improve in a few days, leverage your mental health supports or consider participating in a formal critical incident stress debriefing, if one is available, to help process the event.”
Step 5: Follow-up and debriefing options
Defusing is the beginning, not the end. Its goal is to stabilize and reduce risk. Set up a check-in process and follow up by checking in without being invasive: “I just wanted to see how you’re feeling. Did you get some rest?” Allow them to unpack where they are and see if they may need more support. Remind them that if they are not feeling better, “Healing is not linear. You may have ups and downs. That’s okay. I’m here, and we have support in place for you.”
- Reconfirm access to EFAP or professional support.
- For incidents involving multiple people or high emotional impact, encourage them to participate in a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, typically offered 48 to 72 hours after the event. These group sessions enable individuals to reflect collectively and process their experiences in a guided, trauma-informed environment.
- Respect the person’s pace. Some will seek help immediately; others may need time.
Trauma-informed defusing doesn’t require you to be a therapist. It requires presence, compassion, and structure. When trauma disrupts someone’s reality, your calm actions become the bridge between chaos and an action plan to create space to put the pieces back together. Learning and practicing this micro-skill with clear boundaries can help equip leadership, HR, and peer support to be crisis-ready, keeping in mind that micro-skills are not about fixing; they are about supporting.
