Tens of thousands of people moved into tents or cars, unable to return home or too afraid to go back as aftershocks continued to jolt the region.

NPR: China Rushes Relief After Sichuan Quake Kills 180

The strain of dealing with a volatile public often means workers have difficulty carrying out routine tasks or become too afraid of assaults to continue in their jobs.

BBC: Stress: The effects

Survivors are often too afraid or embarrassed to speak out on what they have been through, sometimes isolated from their communities and lacking confidence those who abused them will face justice.

CNN: War's most vulnerable: How to stop child rape

They may be against it in principle, or they may think that asking for help will reflect adversely on their competence, or they might be afraid that doing favors will demand too much of their time.

CNN: Helping yourself by helping others

Don't be afraid that maybe too much time has passed or that there's too much bitterness that has developed maybe between you and the child's mother.

NPR: Technology Meets Single Motherhood

Afraid that the Food and Drug Administration has become too lax, and is letting unsafe or ineffective drugs through?

FORBES: Why Presidents Don't Shape The FDA