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Strategies
For Coping with
World Event Trauma
By
Russ Webb
On September 11, 2001 our lives changed dramatically. Because of television and other media we became intimately aware and involved in the trauma to hit New York and Washington. The ripple effects of that day hit a nation and the rest of the world. Indeed, we could not be untouched by these events.
Seeing these images over and over again may be the way that some people try to search for meaning and understanding in something that seems so meaningless. The images and sounds can reoccur even when not watching the TV and can cause grief and distress for many. You may experience greater anxiety, frayed nerves, jumpiness, irritability, nightmares and possible flashbacks. These are normal reactions to an abnormal event. However, what can we do to help ourselves and others cope better? Below are 11 strategies to enhance your ability to cope during these uncertain times:
1. Give Yourself Permission to Grieve
Grieving a healthy and natural response to such events. And it is common that when we feel the loss and grief of one experience, that others from our past may also surface. It is healthy to revisit past losses, and tears give expression and validation to the meaning of the losses we have experienced. It is only when we stifle or hinder this natural healing process that we do ourselves a disservice. If you get stuck in your grief and feel like it is not slowly diminishing, seek professional help to help you work it through for yourself.
2. Give Voice To Your Feelings
Grieving is silence does not accomplish what talking to someone about your feelings can. Talk about your feelings of loss and grief, how these events have impacted you personally. Talk about how it affects other issues in your life or losses your may have experienced. Take the opportunity to write out your feelings, thoughts, questions and your process in a journal. Not only does it become a historical document, but it allows for the expression of feelings and thoughts that may never be spoken, but still need to be validated.
3. Talk To Your Children
Children also experience grief and loss and may not have the same kind of understanding of events that you do. They may not be aware that these events happened many miles away or that they are safe. They need reassurance and a good listening ear to hear their feelings and concerns. Children will commonly act out scenes or scenarios that impact them. If they do, it is a wonderful opportunity to discuss with them how they feel about what they are acting out.
4. Listen To Others
Take the time to listen to the experience of other people with regard to these events. As you hear their experience, it can validate your own. Listening to others can make you feel better about the situation because you are at least helping in a small way to help the world recover from this tragedy.
5. Take a Break From The News
Don't worry, you can catch up on world events later. But it may be valuable to consciously choose to take a break and turn off the TV. Getting away from the images and sounds of the catastrophe may be valuable to help restore balance in your life again. Make a conscious decision to only watch the news once every number of days for a while.
6. Take Action and Get Involved
Figure out at least one thing that you can do to help the situation in some way. Taking action by sending a donation, giving blood, taking time to pray, and helping out in some way in your community can help you feel more empowered and less like a victim of of the circumstance. Do something and do it for others.
7. Don't Get Back To Normal
Many have suggested that the United States needs to "get back to normal" business in order to show these terrorists that they have not won. I find that way of thinking distressing because it has the potential to invalidate the immense impact this event has had on the entire world.
I think that it would be better to admit that this event has changed us forever. The ultimate question that will move us to greater growth is not "How do I get back to normal?", but "How do I want this event to impact the rest of my life?" This is the question that drives us all to seek and create positive outcomes emerging out from tragedy and death.
Take time to consider what you want to change in your life as a result of this event. Maybe you want to change something big or something small - but whatever the change, make sure it is meaningful to you and your life. Don't just think about it, but take action towards the impact you want these events to have in your life.
9. Allow for Life and Spiritual Evaluation
We tend to live very busy lives, jumping from one thing to the next without much time to think about what it all means. When a significant event happens to us, it can be valuable to take the time to evaluate our lives. It can be be very positive to consider and reflect on what is important to us and where it is that we are headed.
Many people find that during times of tragedy, they desire a greater sense of spirituality and more intimate and meaningful relationship with God. Talk or write a letter to God about your desires in this area. Talk with others you feel comfortable with about these desires and take action to address this part of your life.
10. Take Time For Balance
Spend time with your children, spouse, and family. You may not be at the point to be able to laugh again, but you may appreciate doing something social and fun. If your life has been filled with seriousness, allow for relaxation. If it has been filled with dealing with people, get out into nature appreciating creation. If you have been isolated and withdrawn, take time to connect with those close to you. Reflect on your life and what may be out of balance. And set out to take the time you need to restore balance.
11. Seek Help When You Need It
Life can be very difficult. Recognize that no one can deal with everything in total isolation. We need each other and sometimes we may need some counselling help to enable healing and growth to happen in our lives. If you feel that you want help in doing any of the eight suggestions above or that the event of September 11th has triggered other trauma in your past, seek counselling help to give you what you need to address it and not let it impact your life negatively. Give yourself time to heal and recover.
If you have any questions or comments about this article, please feel free to send us an email at trcs@spcs.bc.ca. If you would like to talk to a counsellor, please call us at 242-5505 to make an appointment. To find out more about what counselling is like at the Tumbler Ridge Counselling Service, CLICK HERE!
Helping Children After A Disaster
By
the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
A catastrophe such as an earthquake, hurricane, tornado, fire, flood, or violent acts is frightening to children and adults alike. It is important to acknowledge the frightening parts of the disaster when talking with a child about it. Falsely minimizing the danger will not end a child's concerns. Several factors affect a child's response to a disaster.
The
way children see and understand their parents' responses are very important.
Children are aware of their parents' worries most of the time, but they are
particularly sensitive during a crisis. Parents should admit their concerns to
their children, and also stress their abilities to cope with the situation.
A child's reaction also depends on how much destruction and/or death he or she sees during and after the disaster. If a friend or family member has been killed or seriously injured, or if the child's school or home has been severely damaged, there is a greater chance that the child will experience difficulties.
A child's age affects how the child will respond to the disaster. For example, six-year-olds may show their worries about a catastrophe by refusing to attend school, whereas adolescents may minimize their concerns, but argue more with parents and show a decline in school performance. It is important to explain the event in words the child can understand.
Following
a disaster, people may develop Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which is
psychological damage that can result from experiencing, witnessing, or
participating in an overwhelmingly traumatic (frightening) event. Children with
this disorder have repeated episodes in which they re-experience the traumatic
event. Children often relive the trauma through repetitive play. In young
children, upsetting dreams of the traumatic event may change into nightmares of
monsters, of rescuing others, or of threats to self or others. PTSD rarely
appears during the trauma itself. Though its symptoms can occur soon after the
event, the disorder often surfaces several months or even years later.
Parents should be alert to these changes in a child's behavior:
- Refusal to return to school and "clinging" behavior, including shadowing the mother or father around the house
- Persistent fears related to the catastrophe (such as fears about being permanently separated from parents)
- Sleep disturbances such as nightmares, screaming during sleep and bedwetting, persisting more than several days after the event
- Loss of concentration and irritability
- Startled easily, jumpy
- Behavior problems, for example, misbehaving in school or at home in ways that are not typical for the child
- Physical complaints (stomachaches, headaches, dizziness) for which a physical cause cannot be found
- Withdrawal from family and friends, sadness, listlessness, decreased activity, and preoccupation with the events of the disaster
Professional advice or treatment for children affected by a disaster--especially those who have witnessed destruction, injury or death--can help prevent or minimize PTSD. Parents who are concerned about their children can ask their pediatrician or family doctor to refer them to a child and adolescent psychiatrist.
POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)
All children and adolescents experience stressful events which can affect them both emotionally and physically. Their reactions to stress are usually brief, and they recover without further problems. A child or adolescent who experiences a catastrophic event may develop ongoing difficulties known as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The stressful or traumatic event involves a situation where someone’s life has been threatened or severe injury has occurred (ex. they may be the victim or a witness of physical abuse, sexual abuse, violence in the home or in the community, automobile accidents, natural disasters (such as flood, fire, earthquakes), and being diagnosed with a life threatening illness). A child’s risk of developing PTSD is related to the seriousness of the trauma, whether the trauma is repeated, the child’s proximity to the trauma, and his/her relationship to the victim(s).
Following the trauma, children may initially show agitated or confused behavior. They also may show intense fear, helplessness, anger, sadness, horror or denial. Children who experience repeated trauma may develop a kind of emotional numbing to deaden or block the pain and trauma. This is called dissociation. Children with PTSD avoid situations or places that remind them of the trauma. They may also become less responsive emotionally, depressed, withdrawn, and more detached from their feelings.
A child with PTSD may also re-experience the traumatic event by:
- having frequent memories of the event, or in young children, play in which some or all of the trauma is repeated over and over
- having upsetting and frightening dreams
- acting or feeling like the experience is happening again
- developing repeated physical or emotional symptoms when the child is reminded of the event
Children with PTSD may also show the following symptoms:
- worry about dying at an early age
- losing interest in activities
- having physical symptoms such as headaches and stomachaches
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), "Facts for Families," No. 70 (10/99)
- showing more sudden and extreme emotional reactions
- having problems falling or staying asleep
- showing irritability or angry outbursts
- having problems concentrating
- acting younger than their age (for example, clingy or whiny behavior, thumb sucking)
- showing increased alertness to the environment
- repeating behavior that reminds them of the trauma
The
symptoms of PTSD may last from several months to many years. The best approach
is prevention of the trauma. Once the trauma has occurred, however, early
intervention is essential. Support from parents, school, and peers is important.
Emphasis needs to be placed upon establishing a feeling of safety. Psychotherapy
(individual, group, or family) which allows the child to speak, draw, play, or
write about the event is helpful. Behavior modification techniques and cognitive
therapy may help reduce fears and worries. Medication may also be useful to deal
with agitation, anxiety, or depression.
Child and adolescent psychiatrists can be very helpful in diagnosing and treating children with PTSD. With the sensitivity and support of families and professionals, youngsters with PTSD can learn to cope with the memories of the trauma and go on to lead healthy and productive lives.
Free distribution of single Facts sheets is a public
service made possible by the Academy Endowment Fund. This fund supports
educational programs and materials designed to educate parents, families,
teachers, caregivers, and others about the mental illnesses affecting nearly
12.5 million children and adolescents in an effort to de-stigmatize these
illnesses, promote early identification and treatment, and encourage funding for
scientifically based research.
Please make a tax deductible contribution to the Academy Endowment Fund and
support this public outreach. (AACAP Endowment Fund - FFF, P.O. Box 96106,
Washington, D.C. 20090)
Facts for Families © is developed and distributed by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Facts sheets may be reproduced for personal or educational use without written permission, but cannot be included in material presented for sale or profit. A complete set of over 60 Facts sheets covering issues facing children and adolescents is available for $25.00 plus 15% shipping and handling). Please make checks payable to: AACAP, and send requests to Public Information, P.O. Box 96106, Washington, D.C. 20090-6106.
Copyright © 1997 by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Internet Resources:
- Teaching Students About Terrorism and Related Resources
AskERIC Resources - ERIC Resources
http://ericir.syr.edu/cgi-bin/printresponses.cgi/Virtual/Qa/archives/
Subjects/Social_Studies/Current_Events/tragedy.html
- ASCA Crisis Materials
American School Counselor Association (ASCA)
http://www.schoolcounselor.org
- Coping With a National Tragedy
National Association of School Psychologists
http://www.nasponline.org/NEAT/crisis_0911.html
- Managing Traumatic Stress: Tips for Recovering From Disasters and Other
Traumatic Events
American Psychology Association
http://helping.apa.org/therapy/traumaticstress.html
- Responding To Tragedy
American Counseling Association
http://www.counseling.org/tragedy/tragedy.htm
- Helping Young Children Cope with Trauma
RedCross
http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/keepsafe/childtrauma.html
- Schools and Crisis: Selected Resources
Education Weekly
http://www.edweek.org/ew/newstory.cfm?slug=03resources.h21
- AAP Offers Advice on Communicating with Children about Disasters
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/disastercomm.htm
- Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disaster
National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH)
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/violence.cfm
- Advice On How To Talk To Children About Terrorist Attacks
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
http://www.fema.gov/nwz01/nwz01_99.htm
- Crisis Communications Guide & Toolkit
National Education Association (NEA)
http://www.nea.org/crisis/
- Terrorism and Children
Purdue Extension
http://www.ces.purdue.edu/terrorism/children/index.html
- Helping Children After A Disaster
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
http://www.aacap.org/publications/factsfam/disaster.htm
- Helping Teenagers With Stress
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
http://www.aacap.org/publications/factsfam/66.htm
- PDF Downloads from The American Academy Of Experts In Traumatic Stress
- Parent Guidelines for Crisis Response
- Teacher Guidelines for Crisis Response
- The 10 Stages Of Acute Traumatic Stress Management
- How Do People Respond During Traumatic Exposure?
The American Academy Of Experts In Traumatic Stress
http://www.aaets.org/documents.htm
If you have any questions or comments about this article, please feel free to send us an email at trcs@spcs.bc.ca. If you would like to talk to a counsellor, please call us at 242-5505 to make an appointment.
