BUTLER TOWNSHIP — “It’s OK to not be OK.”

That was the resounding message to the community at a United We Stand Crisis Response event Saturday, one week after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump during a rally at the Butler Farm Show grounds.

About a dozen people affected by the events of the rally participated, sharing experiences and learning about trauma reactions, what to expect and how to embark on a path of healing.

Reactions to trauma do not look the same for all people, according to the staff of Christian Counseling Associates, which offered the event at North Main Street Church of God.

“Everybody experiences it very differently,” said Kristy Nutt, CCA’s regional coordinator for Butler. “It’s very personalized.”

People are feeling “normal reactions to abnormal events,” according to the presentation. But trauma reactions can be shaped by personality, gender, past events and more. For that reason, Nutt said, people experience suffering and danger differently.

“If you’re experiencing symptoms, don’t compare yourself to someone else,” Nutt said.

Nutt suggested naming the traumatic event, giving it an identity, and talking openly about feelings.

She warned that those who recently have experienced other traumatic events may have a harder time, as “cluster trauma” can take longer to heal.

“The way that works is you might fuse some of the emotions from their previous trauma and apply them to this current situation,” Nutt said. “And so just be aware that your feelings and your reactions to this might be more intense, because you’re not yet fully healed.”

Tom Weil, clinical supervisor with CCA, described back-to-back traumatic experiences as a “1-2 punch.”

Speakers also discussed physical and emotional symptoms. Trauma can cause those who have been affected to feel hypervigilant, like they are on edge or reacting to a perceived threat even though they are safe.

Those affected may be more irritable, angry or sad. They may cry for no reason, or experience a lack of concentration, fatigue and problems sleeping.

While these physical reactions are uncomfortable, Nutt reiterated they are normal. She cautioned that sometimes people put a lot of time and energy into fixing those symptoms when what is really needed is compassion for yourself, along with time.

“This is an important time to be giving yourself grace,” she said.

She offered a message of hope, telling participants those feelings likely won’t last forever.

“The vast majority of the time, the symptoms do subside,” she said. “Normally, they do not last more than a couple of months. ... Our bodies are very resilient, and we do recover from the symptoms and the experiences.”

Emotional reactions also should be expected, and could include shock, fear, terror, anger, blame, guilt and emotional numbness.

“All emotions during this time, just like stages of grief, can be expected,” Nutt said. “There isn’t necessarily a right or wrong emotion. I think just noticing that you’re going to likely have more of them (is important.)”

Emotional numbness and avoidance can be a concern. Some people may “shut down” as a defense mechanism instead of processing grief and emotion, Nutt said. Or they may isolate, avoid others and stay home where they feel safe.

People who may feel that way were encouraged to talk their feelings through with someone else “instead of getting stuck and avoiding, which is a really common response.”

“There is always a potential for harm, and we can’t ever mitigate that completely,” she said.

Trauma also can cause an increase in conflict with others, as well as impaired work performance, distrust, social withdrawal and overprotectiveness.

Nutt suggested “being open and honest with people around you that that’s what you are going through will help them be compassionate.”

“If you’re shutting down and you’re being angry and people don’t know why that is, they might be frustrated with you,” she said. “But if you can explain to them that ‘I’ve just gone through this thing,’ they’re going to be compassionate to you and frustrated with the experience you went though, instead of you personally.”

With feelings of distrust and anxiety, she said it’s important to push the limits over time and ease back into the uncomfortable.

“If over the course of time you don’t push out of that limit, it becomes a habit,” she said. “Over time, as you’re healing, at least attempt to push the limits.”

Those who may be grappling with spiritual questions, such as “why would God have allowed this to happen,” should seek discussions with their pastor or congregation members, Nutt said.

Weil encouraged the audience to practice self-care, which “might seem selfish.”

“The most important thing that you can do is to take care of yourself,” Weil said. “You are not required to retell your story to anyone you aren’t comfortable with. If you are bothered by the news or triggered by articles, do not force yourself to watch. If you’re not there yet, don’t go there.”

He said behaviors to avoid include excessive drinking, scrolling and screens, and binge-watching television as a method of escape.

For those who have trouble eating, he recommended avoiding stress-eating and large portions of comfort food and suggested eating healthier foods instead.

For sleep, maintaining a routine is crucial. Exercise also can help, but with a goal of improving mental health, not increasing stamina and muscle tone, he said.

Nutt discussed the importance of grounding and being present.

“Grounding is going through all your senses and focusing on that, and what that does is it pulls your brain out of the past, out of the future and into the present moment. ... which is the healthiest, most restful place for your brain to be,” she said.

Weil reviewed the five stages of grief, saying as a community, Butler is still in the first stage of shock and denial — especially with the devastating death of firefighter Corey Comperatore, who was shot while protecting his family at the rally.

“I don’t know that it’s set in yet,” he said.

He also noted that the five stages — shock/denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance — don't necessarily happen in order.

“This is not a race,” he said. “These are emotional stages. They can happen all at the same time. In a community, many different people will be in many different spaces.”

To heal the community, Weil told participants to start at home, with themselves.

Audience members were invited to share their experiences with the group.

Kim Hixon, of Butler, said she was seven rows back and facing Trump when gunshots rang out. She thought the sound was firecrackers.

Hixon said sharing her experience with Weil earlier in the week, as he is her clinical supervisor, was helpful.

“The most important thing is to make some meaning out of what happened that day,” she said.

Missy, who only wanted to be identified by her first name, said she is dealing with feelings of confusion and second-guessing the decisions she made that day.

As she exited the grounds that day, she could hear others calling for help, but she kept going.

“I feel a bit guilty coming out of there,” she said.

She started a website where rally survivors can share experiences at rallysurvivors.org.

Another woman described being frozen in fear, “too scared to even move.”

“I’m just having a hard time moving beyond that,” she said.

Miriam Hixon, of Renfrew, said she has been struggling with her feelings after witnessing the rally that day.

A recent traffic detour that had her traveling down a road that reminds her of the experience brought back all those feelings.

“I was so shaken that I had to drive down that road,” she said.

Paul Bergamasco, of Butler, was in the set of bleachers that was hit with rounds of gunfire. The 30-year Army veteran hopes an eventual result will be that Butler residents, Pennsylvanians and Americans “will grow stronger.”

Post-traumatic growth does offer a “new sense of possibilities and new values in relationships,” Weil said.

It can also make you examine what values you want to live by.

“Find hope for yourself. Find hope and give it to others. Become hope. And even if you fail, what better way is there to live? Nobody can take that from you,” Weil said. “This is one of the most empowering things that I can tell people who have been through traumatic events: find your values. Become your values.”

The Indiana Gazette is assisting the Butler Eagle with reporting resources.