You reacted and helped save a couple of lives. Nothing could be asked more of a human in a time of crisis, so take comfort and solace in that fact. The fact that you in no way humanly possible could rescue the others does NOT take away from this. Try not to let things saturate your feelings too much.
Nightmares and guilt may come, but know that most everyone goes through this in tramatic situations. I've been there myself when I had to drag my mother out of an '86 Toyota Cressida after she backed off an enbankment with me and my brother in the back. Fortunately, no one was fatally injured, but my mother, who was halfway out of the car when she hit reverse and accidentally hit the gas pedal instead of the brake pedal, pretty much liquified every bone in her left foot then had it ripped mostly off her leg before the car came to a stop. After close to two years of surgeries and skin grafts, she's mobile and going strong, though she only has 80% use of her foot...
I've also been through the emotional ringer with the Murrah building bombing in OKC. I was there with a good friend 3 hours after the building exploded searching for his father, who turned out to be fine. Others around us weren't so lucky or blessed that day, though.
It took me 2 months to get back to a normal sleeping pattern and I still have the occasional nightmare about some of the things I saw, but things do get better. It just takes time and talk.
Feel free to PM me if you need to chat about things. I'm no counselor by any means, but I've been through the emotional rollercoaster of tragic circumstance more than once. Communicating things and time are the only two things that will help you sort this out.
If you're so inclined and need to talk, I'd be honored to converse with someone who helped save a life at the risk of their own.
Best wishes, get some rest and shed the stress. Stress is the last thing you need right now.
Regards,
