Therapists and counselors say more people are coming into their clinics wanting to talk through the emotional trauma of last week's terrorist attack.
In some cases, sadness and anger are being replaced with feelings of fear.
Science Specialist Ed Yeates has the story.
Many is this country can't understand why their anguish, their worries, are not getting better.
Though it appears abnormal, especially for those now seeking professional help at the end of week two, psychiatrists say the feelings are still quite normal.
Unusual, isn't it - the Salvation Army out on the street, collecting donations in September.
But then this is not just any September.
TED WANDER, M.D., PSYCHIATRIST, VALLEY MENTAL HEALTH: "I THINK ALL OF US ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT THAT PEOPLE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS. CERTAINLY PEOPLE COMING INTO OUR CLINICS ARE WANTING TO TALK ABOUT IT - TRY TO MAKE SOME SENSE OF IT."
While people want to feel better, it's not happening fast enough. Dr. Ted Wander
says that's normal with a tragedy of this proportion, even for those whose sadness and anger is now being replaced with fear.
"ARE WE SAFE? HOW MUCH HAS OUR WORLD CHANGED?"
RYAN SMITH: "I KIND OF FEAR THAT THINGS WON'T BE HANDLED RIGHT, THAT IT JUST MIGHT ESCALATE TO MORE TROUBLE."
And it's not just the United States. Ryan Smith is not only battling his feelings, so is Marianna Mavor from Argentina.
MARIANNA MAVOR: "I AM REALLY GRATEFUL TO THIS COUNTRY AND IT'S REALLY HARD FOR ME NOT TO FEEL RESENTMENT RIGHT NOW - AND I'M REALLY SAD."
Dr. Wander says even in the midst of change, the mind heals as it returns to some kind of routine - activities, which despite the upheaval, are still stable.
The advice he's giving to his clients - the same reassurance we should be giving to each other.
"THERE'S NO GUARANTEE OF 100% SAFETY FOR ANY OF US AT ANY TIME. AND THERE NEVER HAS BEEN. BUT THAT THE WORLD REMAINS FAIRLY SAFE. MANY ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES HAVEN'T CHANGED AND THOSE ROUTINES CAN BE REALLY HELPFUL AT A TIME LIKE THIS."
Dr. Wander says people should trust in themselves. Don't condemn your feelings. Let them play out.
For some, it may take several weeks. For others, several months.
In either case, it's still normal.
Typical Symptoms
(Source: Executive Insight Development Group)
- Disrupted thinking: forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, indecisiveness, distractibility
- Disrupted sleeping: inability to sleep, sleeping excessively, nightmares
- Disrupted eating: difficulty eating or wanting to eat excessively
- Disrupted moods: unexpected moods, unexpected crying, heightened sensitivity or irritability. Often, the current trauma will bring back memories of past trauma, adding to the distress.
- Disrupted activity: periods of lethary and/or hyperactivity, decreased motivation or productivity
These reactions are normal responses to abnormal events.
Recommendations
- Treat yourself gently and with patience. Go easy on self-expectations. Remember, the soul is hard at work trying to deal with the tragedy and fear. Recovery takes time.
- Allow yourself to feel all of the feelings that emerge: don't try to supress them, don't feel guilty for wanting to escape them, or criticize yourself for "still feeling this way."
- Do the same for others: we each experience trauma and resulting grief in different ways. What may seem crass to you may be another person's way of coping.
- Talk as much as you need to. Avoid the tendency to isolate.
- If the reactions persist, don't hesitate to talk with a counselor.
General Advice (From U.S. Health & Human Services Dept.)
- For children: Answer questions honestly, but without dwelling on frightening details -- but don't be afraid to admit you can't answer everything. Encourage
expression of feelings and give opportunities to talk. Acknowledge your own feelings. Try to maintain normal routines, while also reducing sources of tension
where possible. For younger children especially, cuddling as well as verbal support may be important. Teens especially may need to understand that hateful
language and striking back can cause harm rather than help.
- For reassuring affected adults: Important to acknowledge that reactions of grief and fear are normal – fear, irritability, crying, confusion. Important to know
"it's not your fault, you did the best you could." Acknowledge that things may never be the same, but they will get better. Things to AVOID saying: "It could
have been worse. You can always get another [pet/car/house/etc.]. It's best if you just stay busy. You need to get on with your life. I know just how you feel."
--Sept. 20, 2001--
