5 stages of emotion after a violent encounter where a life is taken.

[Carpy]

I put this in response to another poster who said she would shoot an entruder and feel no guilt.  I think it is worth pointing out so I am just copying it here.

I have to say, anyone who thinks they will not feel guilt and a whole slew of other emotions if they have to shoot someone, is sadly mistaken.

Stages of emotion after a violent encounter where you have had to take a life.

1.  Elation

2. revulsion

3.remorse

4. self doubt

5. acceptance

6. PTSD

Dropping a hammer on someone is not a cake walk, no matter how easy you may think it would be, even if your life is in danger.  It is a very emotional, life changing, experience.

[jehosoba84]

 was there no elaboration on each of the steps?

[wickedfiress]

You never know what you will do in a situation until faced with it, so how could you possibly know how you would feel about it afterwards?

[katy_kay08]

how many people have you killed?

[Carpy]

Elation.

Often there is an immediate feeling of elation at having survived and prevailed in a life-threaten-

ing encounter. In today’s social and political atmosphere, attack survivors may feel that they should

downplay

or ignore this emotion. The survivor who feels this elation is not cold bloodedly rejoicing at the death of

another,

however. Rather, it is a euphoria resulting from both a sense of relief at having survived, and an involun-

tary biochemical reaction resulting from the release of endorph ins and other sensory- and mood-

enhancing chemicals into the bloodstream. The feeling experienced by the victor in a defensive shooting

is similar to-and just as uncontrollable as-the rush felt by a skydiver when the parachute opens. It is

important to realize that there is nothing wrong with a momentary or lasting feeling of elation at having

prevailed. Often this emotion is quickly followed by guilt at having felt elation in the first place.

Revulsion.

After the initial elation at having survived the violent confrontation, there often arises a

feeling of revulsion at what has happened. The victorious victim may become nauseous, vomit, or even

faint from the emotional shock of seeing the result of the confrontation.

The absence of revulsion does not mean you are a bad or cold person. Your own experiences (such as

military combat duty or work as an emergency medical technician) may have given you a greater toler-

ance for the unpleasant consequences of a shooting. However, in preparing for the aftermath of defen-

sive firearm use, you must recognize that the scene of a shooting contains many distasteful and even

sickening sights and sounds. While you cannot completely steel yourself to what you will see and hear,

visualizing potential outcomes may decrease the distress you experience after a shooting.

Remorse.

Many survivors experience remorse at having killed an attacker. This has nothing to do with

the moral justifiability of their actions. It is simply a normal feeling of sadness or sorrow at having been

forced to kill.

[Carpy]

Psychological studies have shown the pattern over and over.

Quoting wickedfiress:

You never know what you will do in a situation until faced with it, so how could you possibly know how you would feel about it afterwards?

[stormcris]

PTSD is not a given.

Not everyone goes through those. 

[DivingDiva]

I think a lot of people greatly underestimate how taking a human life affects a person.  Even if a life is taken in self defense it is very common for a person to face heavy emotional consequences. 

[Carpy]

http://www.internetarmory.com/self_defense.htm

[Carpy]

Not everyone goes through every stage but on average they do.

Quoting stormcris:

PTSD is not a given.

Not everyone goes through those. 

[Carpy]

To many to count.

Now why would you ask that?  This is a somewhat serious post in regards to how so many think it would be a piece of cake and life just goes on as always.

Also in response to how so many on the other side of the fence think gun rights advocates think every gun owner is just itching to kill.

Quoting katy_kay08:

how many people have you killed?