In the aftermath of the events of September 11, there was a wave of shock and grief, even among those who had not directly lost a loved one. The recent anthrax incidents may have renewed feelings of helplessness and anger. Those with traumatic or abusive episodes in their personal past, or those with recent deaths that they mourn, may feel this more acutely. It may be useful for everyone to look over the literature on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, to see if they (or those close to them) are showing signs of reactions to these events that are not diminishing with the passage of time.

Cat Chapin-Bishop MSW, LICMSW, a psychotherapist specializing in trauma counselling, writes:

"Some trauma and bereavement symptoms are more worrisome than others. The help of a group for other survivors, or of a professional therapist trained in bereavement or trauma counseling can be a great help, and the good news is that most critical incident counseling can be brief and still be very effective. Most counseling for these issues need not be long term, though some will find that a return for counseling on anniversary dates or holidays is important for some years to come..."

"Signs that someone might need specialized help in resolving their trauma include:

Increased use of drugs or alcohol. Sleep disturbances that last longer than 2-4 weeks. Panic attacks without clear triggers, or that interfere with the ability to leave your home. Flashbacks that interfere with daily routines, particularly beyond the first 2-4 weeks. Estrangement from friends and family; feeling alienated and isolated from most previously close relationships. (Some changes in relationships and closeness are normal after a disaster—long-lasting, severe, or global changes in all relationships are signs of trouble.) Feeling numb, unreal, or noticeably without emotions (good or bad) beyond the first 2-4 weeks. Any suicidal urges or attempts. In addition, anyone with a known history of trauma or recent bereavement should probably consider checking in with a therapist for at least a brief "booster shot" of counseling if they are not currently seeing a therapist, and should make a point of discussing their responses to the disaster in counseling if they do have a therapist already."

For those who feel they may need short or long-term counselling and do not currently have a therapist, their health care providers or county mental health services will be able to supply referrals.

Some websites on PTSD and other reactions to this national tragedy:

American Red Cross Disaster Services: "Why do I feel like this?" http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/keepsafe/terror.html

National Center for PTSD: http://www.ncptsd.org/

American Counseling Association: "Responding to Tragedy" http://www.counseling.org/tragedy/tragedy.htm

National Institute of Mental Health: "Facts About Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder" http://www.nimh.nih.gov/anxiety/ptsdfacts.cfm

Beliefnet: "Helping Kids Through a National Crisis" http://www.beliefnet.com/frameset.asp?pageLoc=/story/87/story_8723_1.html&boardID=24374

-- Firemouse (firemouse@barefoot.doctor), October 16, 2001

Answers

kick it out...up...over

-- Rich (living_in_interesting_times@hotmail.com), October 17, 2001.

I have had a few nightmares.

After the initial attack I had a recurring dream
of being on an airplane fighting the hijackers in
a narrow aisle. I would grap a shoulder, throw the
first one to the floor and smash his face with my knee.
I could usually take out two of them before two more
teamed up on me and the third piloted the plane to disaster.

Now I have anthrax dreams but I have no defences for this.

-- dandelion (golden@pleurisy.plant), October 17, 2001.

After the initial week of worrying about whether SO was okay [working near the Pentagon and all], I find myself joking about the whole thing. Laughter is, perhaps, the way I "deal" with tragedies.

Yesterday, my next-door neighbor brought my phone bill to my door. She said, "*I* don't want this. I looked at it and said, "*I* don't want it either." She went on to discuss how angry she was [still] at the tragedy that struck the nation. Of course she asked about SO, and I told her how close [yet far away] from it all he'd been.

Later last night, I found myself at the same neighbor's door. I was baking a cake and the instructions required flour in the baking pan after greasing. I'd thrown away all my flour after it became infected with weevils recently and only needed a tablespoon or so. Heh. If only life were so simple as to allow the borrowing of a tablespoon of flour in less than an hour's time. We started talking about the acts of terrorism, the economy, etc. As I said, SHE was still very angry, but her husband was more composed. She thought that SO would be very angry because the attack had come so close to him, but I told her that he [much like myself] didn't anger easily and even went to work in D.C. the day after the attacks, even though the city was closed. We then joked about

-- Anita (Anita_S3@hotmail.com), October 18, 2001.

Heh. I have a wild mouse here. We then joked about sanity and insanity and I stated that sanity was never SO's forte. On parting, I said, "You DID check that phone bill for Anthrax before bringing it to me, right?" Personally, I figure that if the phone company wants to lace my bill with Anthrax, they don't expect me to pay." See? There ARE some blessings in all this.

-- Anita (Anita_S3@hotmail.com), October 18, 2001.