I'm watching the television reports on the London bombings. I know that I share the feelings of millions of people in the U.S. and worldwide: sadness for the victims and their loved ones, anger because of the senselessness of the killings, worry about what and where the next one will be. There's a sense of powerlessness to stop the attacks.

Wherever we are, we all have some reaction to the terrorist attacks. Most of us are at a safe distance and have no direct connection with the victims. Others witnessed the horror, were injured themselves, or lost people they knew or loved. We all feel more anxiety and vulnerability due to these random killings, and some people may experience severe and long-lasting psychological reactions. Some may develop post-traumatic stress disorder.

Within psychiatry, there's now a subspecialty called disaster psychiatry that is focused on understanding immediate and long-term reactions to such catastrophic events and identifying effective ways to help people recover from devastating psychological reactions. How should you respond to news of violent attacks like this week's?

The American Psychiatric Association has made several general recommendations:

• Stay informed of news and developments regarding a disaster, but try to avoid overexposure by watching rebroadcasts over and over. It's important to focus on the facts and avoid too much speculation and rumor.
  
  
• Talk with family, friends, and colleagues who may be having the same feelings.
  
  
• Maintain an open dialogue with children about their fears and understanding of the situation.

It is important to recognize that feelings of anxiety and depression are normal following tragedies. Communicating with others in similar circumstances can help us reaffirm that we are not alone. We can help others who are distressed by listening to their concerns and allowing them to express their feelings and worries.

If depression, anxiety and sleeplessness persist after the situation has improved and order has been restored, then it may be time to seek professional help. People diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder have lingering fear, anxiety, depression, disturbed sleep and flashbacks of the traumatic event. As a result, they also may experience relationship and work problems and may turn to alcohol or substance abuse as a means to cope. Counseling and medications can be very helpful for people to recover from trauma and function as well as possible.