Department News
Coping With the Traumas of Terrorism

In the aftermath of our nation's greatest tragedy and long before we can fully comprehend what happened and why, we must grieve but we also must compose ourselves and move forward. It is a time to marshal our best personal resources and extend them with compassion and support to people around us.

One key issue we as mental health professionals want to emphasize is tolerance and compassion. Events such as Tuesday's can lead to increased prejudice and hatred based on ethnicity, religion or national origin. We need to avoid this. To do otherwise would allow this act of terrorism to be a success.

Reactions will be more severe among those geographically and/or emotionally closest to the tragic attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C. To a lesser extent, those in Chicago who had to evacuate their buildings or were in the air when the tragedy developed will also be likely to have stronger reactions than the rest of us. Close to home, and especially for our children, extending comfort and help will mean we need to acknowledge what has happened, listen more than talk, watch for abnormal reactions and prepare to provide long-term support. But where to begin?

As each of us struggles to grapple with this disaster and its implications, how do we best support one another and our children? For most of us here in Chicago, the most important groups are our children and those likely to have heightened reactions to the events, refugees from war-torn nations and others who have experienced trauma first hand, and many whose beliefs, or national or ethnic heritage may position them to experience excessive grief, anger, fear, or perhaps misdirected suspicion and blame.
Human reaction especially among children hinges on a number of factors: the experience of the events (e.g., eye witnessing vs. media coverage); violence and destruction observed (such as seeing bodies fall from buildings vs. billowing smoke); the level of direct threat perceived to personal and family safety (if a loved one as opposed to a stranger were hurt or killed), and available family support. All of these factors will bear on initial and long-term reactions to trauma.

The two variables most of us will have greatest control over are perceived threats to safety and support for our loved ones. Some thoughts:

• It's good to acknowledge your own fear, but do so calmly and don't dwell on it.
  
• Help children and others feel safe; check to make sure they are safe, and show and explain that you're ensuring their safety.
  
• Help children process and understand what has happened in terms appropriate to their age. As caretakers, parents, and teachers we must aim to calmly, honestly explain events and field questions, but steer clear of overexposing children, or excessively venting our own reactions.
  
• Reassure children that state and federal government, police, doctors and hospitals are doing everything possible to help the injured people.
  
• Children should not watch repeated TV news coverage of the events.
  
• Avoid judgmental thinking and expressions; no one yet has sufficient information to lay blame or even speculate who is responsible. Conjectures are nothing more than conjectures, and can easily exacerbate fear and panic.
  
• Let children know that in time our country will recover from this disaster.

Anyone who has been exposed to violence in the past is also likely to have a stronger reaction to Tuesday's tragedies. This may vary from increased concern to a full Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which includes emotional numbing, hypersensitivity to any stimuli, intrusive thoughts or memories and avoidant behaviors. We must also be aware that the number of children and adults in the U.S. exposed to violence is very high and that all these individuals are at higher risk to develop some form of stress reaction in response to these national events.

Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) is the most common psychiatric disorder triggered by a traumatic event. While PTSD reactions may follow after a period of time, ASD tends to have earlier onset. Both disorders can involve persistent nightmares or flashbacks of the trauma. People suffering from these disorders may feel numb and have difficulty responding normally to usual life situations. They may be on edge, have trouble sleeping, have angry outbursts or seem excessively watchful. Some people become severely depressed and begin to abuse drugs and/or alcohol in an attempt to medicate their painful feelings. People with these symptoms should seek help from a psychiatrist or other mental health professional.