coping with disaster: september 11, 2001

Patricia Carroll, RN,BC, CEN, RRT, MS

We have never been through anything like this. We are numb. We don't know how we should feel, what we should think, or if life will ever be normal again.                         Click to enlarge

We wish this awful disaster never had happened, and that we could go back to the way things used to be. This photo, sent to me in an e-mail from a friend, sums up those sentiments for me.

Disasters have happened before, but if it was across the country, unless we knew someone in the immediate area, most of us thought about it, felt sad, and then went back to everyday life. For the first time, many Americans feel as if Ground Zero is in their community, their neighborhood and their very homes.         

Beginning to Understand 

No one who sees a disaster is unaffected by it. With the magnitude of this event and the presence of television, every American is numbed by those images of the plane crashing into the second World Trade Tower, the collapse of the building, the crash at the Pentagon, and the hole in the ground in Pennsylvania. This is a disaster seen and felt by every American. 

Here are some things to remember:

• It's normal to feel anxious about your own safety and your loved ones' safety

• We each have different ways of coping and different needs at this time of uncertainty

• Overwhelming sadness, grief and anger are normal feelings

• Acknowledging and talking about our feelings can help us recover

• Focus on your strengths and abilities and how you have coped with your own personal crises in the past. Even though you may feel paralyzed now, you can use those skills this time, too. 

Typical Reactions

Stress and grief reactions are normal ways to cope with a horribly abnormal situation. You may be experiencing any or most of the following:

• Fear and anxiety (generalized)

• Crying for no apparent reason or with little provocation

• Fear of darkness or nighttime; this often interferes with sleep

• Fear of being left alone and fear of leaving home

• Being irritable and quick to anger

• Having trouble concentrating

• Fear of crowds or strangers

• Sensitivity to loud noises

• Increased use of alcohol or drugs to try to change how you feel     

For most people, these will decrease in the weeks and months ahead. But, everyone has experienced this tragedy a bit differently and has different coping skills. Don't compare your recovery to others'.

What You Can Do

There are steps you can take to assist your recovery from this disaster. Share these tips with your friends and loved ones:

• Talk about it. Even if it is difficult, talk about how you learned about the plane crashes, whether you knew anyone directly affected, and try to give words to your feelings. By sharing your thoughts with others, you will find you are not alone. 

• Don't isolate yourself. Reach out to others.

• Remember you are not responsible for this terrible act, and don't feel frustrated that you cannot directly help with rescue work. Donate blood. Help in your community.

• Take care of yourself. Try to eat a balanced diet.  Get as much sleep as you can.

• Take a break. Do something you normally find relaxing. Turn off the television. Listen to music you enjoy. Take a long, hot bath.  Cook a special meal. Do something you love to do. Treat yourself to something special.

• As soon as you are able to, get back to a routine. While we may have to come up with a new definition of "normal," try to create your own sense of normality.

• Spend time with people who mean the most to you. 

• Participate in memorial services, rituals such as placing flowers, and religious services that may comfort you. Here is a piece of music I have found particularly meaningful and comforting: Barber's "Adagio for Strings" (it starts slowly -- you may wish to turn up your sound)

• Establish a family emergency plan so that each family member knows how to contact the others in case of emergency in the future. Simply planning may be very reassuring to your loved ones. One tip is to choose a friend or family member who lives out of state, and have everyone call there to report in when they can find a working telephone. If your cell phone won't work, you can't get to your home, or the phone lines are out in your local area, an out-of-state contact can be critical to keeping track of your loved ones.  

Seek Professional Help  

You may find you need professional help, or you may recommend professional help to a friend or loved one. Seek help from a community mental health service (look in the telephone book), contact your healthcare provider for a referral, or call your local chapter of the American Red Cross. Warning signs that professional help is needed include:

• Strong feelings that won't go away after four to six weeks (about early November)

• The inability to resume daily activities

• Not being able to sleep for weeks after the tragedy

• Excessive use of alcohol or drugs

• Any incident of domestic violence

• Feelings of despair and hopelessness

People who have received mental health services in the past may wish to touch base with their mental health care provider to set up a plan for coping with this new trauma. 

We have been through a national crisis for which there is no comparison in history. We are all struggling to cope. Please know that you are not alone, and people are available to help you get through this.

Resources

The Center for Mental Health Services

National Mental Health Association

US Department of Health and Human Services

The Center for Mental Health Services Disaster Site  

Written: September 2001

Reviewed: May 2003, May 2004