ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Fireworks are a time for celebration, but the festivities can also cause post-traumatic stress disorder among veterans and shooting victims, says a local counselor.
More than two shots were fired between law enforcement and the Pulse gunman on June 12.
Many of the survivors originally thought fireworks were going off in the club. And for residents who live near the nightclub, they told Channel 9’s Lauren Seabrook, that they’re staying inside on July 4th.
“With everything that happened, it’s sensitive to me,” said resident Kassendra Benoit. “I didn’t want to be part of any fireworks, the block party and stuff like that. Just to avoid the situation with everything I had to go through, so that’s all.”
For many, fireworks sound too much like gunfire.
"Right now, if somebody went by and we heard a boom we'd be like what the heck was that. For them, it can go back and trigger for the traumatic event,” said licensed mental health counselor, Judy Charuhas.
Charuhas has been working with people who want to be able to cope and enjoy the Independence Day festivities.
"People are saying, ‘I still want to go and do things I've always done, I'd like to do, that's not going to be taken from me.’ That's great, but we want to also say, ‘please take care of yourself,’” Charuhas said.
Charuhas has recommended many who heard the shooting at Pulse, stay inside, instead of going to a public place to watch the fireworks.
"It's normal to be nervous about that, because people did think they were in a safe, secure place, and unfortunately it wasn't safe."
Cox Media Group
