Signs of stress Here are some signs of post-traumatic stress disorder that parents should watch for from their children: Refusal to return to school or ''clinging'' behavior, including shadowing the mother or father around the house. Persistent fears related to the disaster, such as fears about being permanently separated from parents. Sleep disturbances - including nightmares, screaming during sleep and bedwetting - that persist more than several days after the event. Loss of concentration and irritability. Nervousness or jumpiness. Behavior problems, such as misbehaving in school or at home in ways that are not typical for the child; physical complaints, including stomachaches, headaches and dizziness, for which a physical cause cannot be found; and withdrawal from family and friends, sadness, listlessness, decreased activity and preoccupations with the events of the disaster. Source: The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

On Tuesday, she had to deal with her own.

Now on leave to teach at George Washington University in Washington, Dr. Story lives only two miles from the Pentagon. From her Arlington, Va., apartment, she could see the smoke billowing from the nation's military center, caused by one of Tuesday's terrorist attacks.

''The first time it hit home was when I was crossing the Key Bridge over the Potomac and I could see the Pentagon and the smoke was billowing out of it,'' she said in a phone interview from her apartment. ''There were military helicopters all over, and they had missiles. I was really scared and had the feeling that America was under attack.

''When I saw those helicopters, I cried. Right there in public. It's what hits you when it hits you.''

Several psychologists and psychiatrists say many Americans can expect to experience a wide array of emotions over the next few days and weeks. They will range from fear to anger to a need to take revenge.

''I think over the next day or so, what we're going to see is initial disbelief and what one may see following that is heightened fear regarding oneself and family,'' said Dr. Rex Forehand, director of the Institute for Behavioral Research at the University of Georgia. ''I expect to see people moving through a number of stages. I think it's going to be a period of months before we come out of this. The American public is going to feel this for a long time.''

One of the things many people may feel is a sense of helplessness, the experts say.

''What makes something traumatic is that feeling of helplessness and lack of control,'' said Dr. Clyde Flanagan, a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst at University of South Carolina's School of Medicine. ''Watching it, there is a sense of helplessness and vulnerability. We tend to feel vulnerable and focus on everything in life we don't have control over.''

To help regain some emotional footing, some of these experts recommend that people do things they have some control over, such as donating blood to help victims of the catastrophe.

''For instance, blood banks in D.C. are turning people away who are coming to donate,'' Dr. Story said. ''These are little things that people can do to help. No matter where you are in this country, you can help.''

Those who may be hit hardest emotionally by what happened Tuesday will be children. Parents should tailor their response to fit the age of the child, the psychologists say.

''For preschool children, parents need to talk about what happened but assure their children that they love them and will protect them. Explanations about why it happened is really not necessary,'' Dr. Forehand said. ''For school-age children, they are at a stage where they will likely ask why it happened. Parents will have to address that and again assure them of their love and their protection. For teens, there needs to be more of an interchange between them and parents.''

Dr. Fred Medway, a child psychologist in the psychology department at the University of South Carolina, added, ''The bottom line is that (parents) need to be available physically for their children, and realize that there will be a number of questions they won't be able to answer.''

Reach Mike Wynn at (706) 823-3218 or mwynn@augustachronicle.com.