How has the tragedy of September 11, 2001 affected you?
Did you have a family member or friend who was killed in New York City, Washington, DC, or outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania?
Have you been through a tragedy or disaster in the past such as the Oklahoma City bombing?
Are you currently suffering from illness or chronic health problems?
Do you already suffer from anxiety, depression or other psychological problems?
Are you isolated and lacking a support network of family and friends to talk with about the recent tragedy?
Do you frequently sense a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness when you are exposed to a crisis situation?
Do you lack a spiritual framework to assist you in dealing with events in life which are beyond your control?
If you answered yes too many of the questions above then you may be having a particularly difficult time with the recent terrorist attacks which shocked all of the citizens of our country.
We are all just beginning to experience a tiny portion of the unbelievable number of changes that we will experience as a result of the tragedy of September 11th.
Those more directly affected by the tragedy may be experiencing symptoms of acute stress disorder. These symptoms may include a sense of detachment, feelings of psychological numbness, and absence of emotional responsiveness. These same individuals may feel like they are in a daze after a disaster or tragedy and have problems sleeping, difficulties concentrating and experience irritability. If these symptoms persist for weeks or months, a condition known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder may be occurring. I will be discussing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in future columns.
Rather than attempting to “get back to normal”, a better goal might be to “take one day at a time”, attempt to move back into routines that existed in life prior to the September 11th tragedy and recognize that the tincture of time is going to be necessary to help resolve grief and loss issues and move toward the future.
Many of us have already turned to our faith and belief, friends and family, the structure of work and doing something for someone else – all helpful components in dealing with tragedies and disasters such as the one we have all recently experienced. Additionally, limit exposure to media bombardment of the images associated with the first few hours of the tragedy in order to help children and adults deal with this crisis.
If all coping strategies fail then individuals should consider getting help from a mental health professional. An objective look and a new direction may be needed. Mental health professionals are active listeners who can sometimes help a person cope with tragedy and disaster and thereby set a new course to move ahead with their lives.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 2001
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I’m an experienced Clinical Practitioner, Administrator, Professional Writer, and Lecturer.
