7. How to cope with the attack

If you survive an active shooter attack, you have a life experience that is very difficult to deal with. You have experienced a traumatic event that must have left a deep mark on your psyche. The initial reaction to a traumatic event is stress, which can persist for days after the attack.

Possible physical consequences of the trauma:

  • fatigue,
  • poor sleep,
  • nightmares,
  • difficulty concentrating,
  • stomach ulcers and other health problems.

Psychological effects of trauma:

  • mood swings,
  • feelings of helplessness,
  • sadness,
  • irritability,
  • aggression.

When to seek professional help:

  • you are unable to carry out normal activities at home or at work,
  • even though a long time has passed since the attack, you still feel unwell,
  • isolating yourself from other people,
  • suffering from depression,
  • contemplating suicide,
  • nightmares and frightening memories.


Following up and recovering after a crisis isn't a matter of days—it can take weeks or even months.

In these cases, VŠE offers professional psychological help provided by the Academic Centre through Academic Psychological Counselling.

Consultations are provided in both Czech and English and you can sign up for them directly in the registration system on the Counselling Centre's website.

On this website you can also find links to other professional facilities providing non-stop assistance.


In an article on the intranet, the Academic Psychological Counselling centre summarises in more detail the different categories of psychological problems and the possibilities of their handling.