Priscilla Dass-Brailsford, a psychologist at Georgetown University Medical Center, said that if those symptoms don't fade in about a month, of if they are bad enough to impair function, people should seek help.

NPR: Anger, Fear, Tears Normal Response To Disasters

Beyond hospitalized patients, part of coping is awareness about how to take care of the psyche turning off scary TV coverage and reading a book, going out for a quiet dinner, anything to temporarily cut the stress, says Dass-Brailsford, the disaster specialist.

NPR: Anger, Fear, Tears Normal Response To Disasters