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Impact of Psychological Trauma from Terrorist Attacks-
Practical guidance on helping children and adults cope with crisis
Orlando, FL (9-11-01) A day that most Americans will always refer to as "911" in the devastating aftermath of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. This date will live on in infamy as we all try to cope with the most aggressive attack on the United States in recent history.
How will our nation deal with a crisis of such magnitude? How will you cope? Because of the catastrophic nature of the terrorist attacks, it is extremely important to take action to protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of stuffed emotions, or to become obsessed or paralyzed from the overexposure of watching the crisis.
There are many warning signs that the stress is too powerful for a person to manage by themselves. You need to become aware of the warning signs and how to cope.
Terrorists do things to make you afraid. Panic is what they hope to accomplish.
These action steps from Critical Incident Specialist and counselor, Dwight Bain will help you to immediately cope with this crisis. Bain urges you to consider these practical action steps as you attempt to go back to your daily routine over the next few days, and especially in dealing with the needs of your children. Using these guidelines, adults will grow stronger as well as be able to reach out to children to deal with the crisis in an age appropriate manner. The stress reaction guidelines listed below will help children and adults alike.
First- Avoid stuffing your emotions.
Think in terms of an expanding balloon. This type of trauma will keep adding more and more pressure if you don't have some type of healthy outlet. If you allow these emotions to build up, you will feel like blowing up. A more effective way to directly deal with your emotions is to follow this brief model of stress management for yourself and for children.
Face it-
Directly face what has happened. The United States was aggressively attacked by a terrorist group and thousands of people have been hurt or killed. This is an act of war.
Feel it-
There are a number of normal emotions that occur after this type of tragedy. Fear, guilt, grief, panic, denial, anxiety, anger, shock, loss of emotional control or depression are all normal emotions. Regardless of the emotions that you, your children or loved ones are feeling right now, you should consider them as normal and express them verbally. You cannot talk too much as you attempt to deal with these intense emotions. Healthy expression includes talking, writing, drawing, journaling, and prayer.
Process it-
This is the cognitive stage that comes after you begin to release emotions. It is important to deal with your emotions first, and then to attempt to "figure out" what happened over the last 24 hours. Since there are no real answers to the national tragedy, it is recommended that you sort through what this crisis means to you. How is your life impacted? What does this mean to your children, or the people that you work around? What will you do differently? As you think through the events, it will allow you to begin to implement a strategic plan of action to better cope with your personal and professional life. After you process through how you will deal with this crisis, then think through how to reach out to others. Consider how you might be able to help them during their time of grief.
Grow-
The final stage is to remember that we will make it through this terrible time. We will survive. We will go on. We are a people of hope and we will band together to help each other grow strong in light of this act of war against our nation. Think of ways to get involved. Donate Blood. Give money to the Salvation Army or American Red Cross, or the charity of your choice that will be mobilizing to help our neighbors and friends rebuild their lives. Push yourself to become involved in caring for others, instead of keeping to yourself with your emotions stuffed inside.
Second-
Use caution with overexposure to media images.
The images of the battered and broken bodies that will be pulled from the wreckage of the former World Trade Center in downtown Manhattan will be some of the worst that most Americans have ever seen. I am recommending that adults attempt to limit their exposure to the images of the tragedy, and especially to prevent young children from seeing what you and I would call "acts of war," on the United States. Each of these images will represent yet another family devastated by this tragedy. There will be a deep awareness that it "could have been me," which will impact everyone in different ways. Another significant factor is that constant overexposure to these graphic images will tend to create a sense of mental "numbness" that will desensitize other emotions that you may need to deal with openly. I believe that it is an act of human dignity to not become over involved in watching the removal of the bodies and that we should have pity for the dead and their loved ones, instead of watching as a form of entertainment. This type of reverence will help the families of the victims, to feel respected instead of exploited.
Third- Avoid extended periods of aloneness.
Isolation is one of the most dangerous behaviors during a tragedy of this magnitude. To spend too much time alone is not recommended, since the combination of being traumatized along with excessive aloneness could lead to being overanxious, fearful, and panic-stricken. While no one knows if there will be more attacks in the days ahead, we do know that it is mentally healthy to be around other supportive people. During the last few hours churches, synagogues, social service agencies and counseling hotlines have opened up for discussion groups, counseling, and a place of support and healing during this critical time. It is essential to be around other healthy adults, and for children to feel secure with access to their loved ones. If you live alone, it is recommend that you reach out to your neighbors or others that may be near where you live. Electronic relationships will not be as effective during a time of crisis such as this one, rather it will be more helpful to be around other people.
Forth- Strategies for dealing with children.
Children look to their parents for support and encouragement during times of crisis. The following is a guide to help parents and teachers effectively assist children in dealing with the terrorist attacks.
Ages birth-6
It is recommended that children under the age of six not be given much, if any, exposure to the terrorist attacks. Children of this age will draw their support from their parents, so if the parents or guardians feel safe and secure, the children will as well. Parents should speak calmly about the bad things that happened, and that "we will remember the people that were hurt in our prayers." If the parents are able to maintain a sense of calmness, the children will feel safe.
Ages 6-12
Children this age are more aware of the world around them, yet still need Moms and Dads to shield them from many of the terrorist events of the last 24 hours. Very limited exposure to the media is recommended at this stage, with more open discussions about their fears and insecurities. Talking is encouraged for this age group, as is holding them close and having special times of prayer. These steps should help them with any fears and insecurities.
Ages 12-18
Young people in this age group will have their own impressions of the events they have witnessed from the terrorist attacks. The older they are, the more likely they will have strong opinions. There is a normal tendency to want to process with their friends or peers. This should be balanced with family or teachers and counselors. They should have times with parents or teachers to view images, and them verbally process how they feel about what happened. Special emphasis should be placed on helping this age group talk through issues, and not go to silence or isolation, which could be warning signs that the crisis has been internalized. Strict limits on over exposure of media is encouraged.
Warning Signs.
The stress signs may occur immediately after the that the stress and trauma of the crisis or a few days later. For some it may be weeks or months. These signs are indicators that the stress is beginning to overwhelm the individual. The longer the stress symptoms occur, the greater the severity of the traumatic event on the individual. This does not imply craziness or weakness, it simply indicates that the event was just too powerful for the person to manage by themselves. Adults or children that display any of the following stress symptoms may need additional help dealing with the events of the crisis. They should seek the appropriate medical or psychological assistance.
Physical:
Chills, thirst, fatigue, nausea, fainting, vomiting, dizziness, weakness, chest pain, headaches, elevated BP, rapid heart rate, muscle tremors, difficulty breathing, shock symptoms, etc.
Emotional:
Fear, guilt, grief, panic, denial, anxiety, irritability, depression, apprehension, emotional shock, feeling overwhelmed, loss of emotional control, etc.
Cognitive:
Confusion, nightmares, uncertainty, hyper-vigilance, suspiciousness, intrusive images, poor problem solving, poor abstract thinking, poor attention/memory, concentration, disorientation of time, place or person, difficulty identifying objects or people, heightened or lowered alertness, etc.
Behavioral:
Withdrawal, antisocial acts, inability to rest, intensified pacing, erratic movements, changes in social activity, changes in speech patterns, loss of or increase of appetite, increased alcohol consumption, etc.
When in doubt, contact a physician or certified mental health professional. I challenge you to actively deal with the stressful emotions directly to help yourself and your loved ones to cope with this crisis. Remember that there are many experienced professionals that can help you. You do not have to go through this alone.
Please forward or fax this vital information on to whomever you wish.
It is to help others effectively cope with this national crisis.
Dwight Bain
www.dwightbain.com
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