Coping in Tragic Times

Coping in Tragic Times
By Annette E. Barton, ACSW, BCD

September 11, 2001 is a day that will go down in history as a turning point for America. The world watched as events unfolded after the terrorist attacks that day. America's sense of security and safety shattered. Relatives, friends, acquaintances and compassionate sympathetic people were stunned, shaken, angry, and saddened. We will feel the effects of this for some time to come.

We are asking many questions right now. Why did this happen? What does it mean for us now? How will our lives change? Will we have another World War? Are we safe? Will this affect our privacy? Will we be able to travel in safety again? How many are dead or will die from this? Will we ever be the same again? These are just a few of the questions I have heard people asking.

It is hard to determine what kinds of long-term effects this will have. One thing is certain, though. There will be long-term effects both nationally/internationally and personally. I will not attempt to answer the national and international questions and will leave that for the political and social analysts. Instead I will focus on the personal effects.

We have all been touched by this tragedy whether we were personally there, had family and friends there, or just watched in shock and horror as the events unfolded. It is natural to have a variety of feelings. Each person will respond in their own unique way. There are some common responses, though. You could experience shock, numbness, tearfulness, anger, grief, sadness, fearfulness, panic, frustration, insecurity, sleep and appetite disturbances, and helplessness. Those who have been involved in military wars, conflicts, or trauma could experience increased memories and flashbacks of those times.

COPING STRATEGIES

Below are a variety of suggestions for how to cope with this tragic situation. These are just a few potential tools that a person can use. Some of these suggestions may be appropriate for you, some may not. The most important thing about coping strategies is to have a variety and be willing to try different things until you find some that work for you.

Talk about your anger with friends, family, and support people. Then let it go.

Connect with your family and friends to affirm your sense of support and community.

Cry and let yourself grieve the loss and tragedy.

Take breaks from the news to give yourself time to process the information.

Remember to eat regularly. It is easy to skip meals or overeat in response to tragedy.

Exercise to help cope with the stress. Take a walk or bicycle ride or something else you might enjoy.

Talk to your children. For a good article on how to do this go to: www.taps.org/attack-kids.htm

Strive to maintain some normalcy and consistency in your schedule. Even in the midst of tragedies, our lives go on.

For those who are on medication, be sure to take your medication as prescribed. Do not skip doses or take more unless you first talk with your doctor.

Do not overindulge in alcohol or other substances to try to cope and numb your feelings as this will only make things worse.

Talk to a professional to work through any difficult feelings or traumatic responses.

Do something to help. Donate money or blood to the Red Cross. Be supportive to others.

If you are spiritual, pray for peace and harmony and hold those thoughts in your mind and heart.

Maintain an open mind. Remember that just because one or a few people of a nationality commit an act of terrorism, not all people of that nationality are terrorists.

Write about your feelings in a journal.

Prioritize what you need to do. Take things one step at a time. If you are dealing with more than you can already handle, put off making any major decisions right now. Give yourself a chance to heal.

Seek out information, resources and support from people and sources you trust.

© 2005-2007, Annette Barton, ACSW, BCD

The information provided on this website is intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or in any other way substitute for the assistance of a professional.

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