Four People Dead, More Than A Dozen Injured In Shooting at Fitness Center

Think about being one of the people going to the gym for a workout and having this happen. How would you feel the next time you went? Would the memories of this act of violence return? Would you ever be able to feel as if there was nothing else to think about than getting a good workout for your health? Would you ever really feel safe just doing simple things again?

After traumatic events caused by others you are never really the same again.

Suspect Identified In Fatal Collier Twp. Fitness Club Shooting
Four People Dead, More Than A Dozen Injured In Shooting
POSTED: 8:21 pm EDT August 4, 2009
UPDATED: 8:39 am EDT August 5, 2009
COLLIER TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- Authorities have identified a possible suspect in a Collier Township fitness club shooting that killed four people and wounded as many 15.

"I've never seen (anybody) shot before. I feel like it's a dream. I don't know what to think of it," said Mike Hentosz, a witness who was near the room where the shooting took place.

ABC News reported the suspect is George Sodini, of Pittsburgh.

5 Women Taken To UPMC-Mercy In Critical Condition

A representative from UPMC-Mercy in Pittsburgh told WTAE Channel 4's Marcie Cipriani that the hospital was treating five women who were shot multiple times. All five women were admitted in critical condition. Within an hour, three were upgraded to serious condition, and two others remained in critical condition by 11 p.m.

read more here

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/20283352/detail.html

Sometimes it just takes time to regain the sense of security as days go by without anything else happening. You watch people more closely. You may jump when you hear a car backfire or any other sudden loud noise. You may get edgy when you hear a loud, angry voice. If time takes away your discomfort level, talking about it helps ease your horrific memories and it gets easier to cope as the days pass, then you shouldn't need more help to "get over it" by a professional. The key is, is it getting easier or harder or staying the same within you?

If the emotions and memories get stronger, if it does not seem that you are "getting over it" as days pass, or you find yourself still jumping out of your skin a month later, seek help. It usually means the event took a greater hold on you than you thought it did. Do no deny what is happening inside of you. A professional will be able to diagnose if you need more help or not to overcome it.

If you are a family member of any of the people there yesterday, watch for signs of change in them. Here is a list of changes that happen when people have been exposed to traumatic events and in need of help. You know them better than anyone else and they need you to pay attention to them so they get help as soon as possible.

The following is from the Mayo Clinic

Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder typically begin within three months of a traumatic event. In a small number of cases, though, PTSD symptoms may not occur until years after the event.

Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms are commonly grouped into three types: intrusive memories, avoidance and numbing, and increased anxiety or emotional arousal (hyperarousal).

Symptoms of intrusive memories may include:

Flashbacks, or reliving the traumatic event for minutes or even days at a time
Upsetting dreams about the traumatic event
Symptoms of avoidance and emotional numbing may include:

Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event
Feeling emotionally numb
Avoiding activities you once enjoyed
Hopelessness about the future
Memory problems
Trouble concentrating
Difficulty maintaining close relationships
Symptoms of anxiety and increased emotional arousal may include:

Irritability or anger
Overwhelming guilt or shame
Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much
Trouble sleeping
Being easily startled or frightened
Hearing or seeing things that aren't there

Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms can come and go. You may have more post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms during times of higher stress or when you experience reminders of what you went through. You may hear a car backfire and relive combat experiences, for instance. Or you may see a report on the news about a rape, and feel again the horror and fear of your own assault.

When to see a doctor
It's normal to have a wide range of feelings and emotions after a traumatic event. The feelings you experience may include fear and anxiety, a lack of focus, sadness, changes in sleeping or eating patterns, or bouts of crying that come easily. You may have recurrent nightmares or thoughts about the event. This doesn't mean you have post-traumatic stress disorder.

But if you have these disturbing feelings for more than a month, if they're severe, or if you feel you're having trouble getting your life back under control, consider talking to your health care professional. Getting treatment as soon as possible can help prevent PTSD symptoms from getting worse.

In some cases, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms may be so severe that you need emergency help, especially if you're thinking about harming yourself or someone else. If possible, call 911 or other emergency services, or ask a supportive family member or friend for help.

UPDATE
Police: Gym shooter 'had a lot of hatred'
A Pennsylvania man who walked into a gym aerobics class and opened fire, killing three women and wounding nine others before turning the gun on himself, "just had a lot of hatred in him," police said Wednesday. George Sodini, 48, brought four handguns into the LA Fitness gym outside Pittsburgh and used three of them, firing at least 36 times, police said.
developing story