Terrorism- Why I Feel the Way I Do? September 11, 2001 will be a day that we all remember forever. This is precisely the intent of terrorists - to strike fear, doubt, and a sense of helplessness in people. These are the normal reactions to acts of terror, not unlike the reactions to natural disasters such as hurricanes. The difference being, of course, that terrorism is the result of the actions of other humans and we think of natural disasters as acts of God that have scientific foundations that can be explained in a rationale way. After-all, we know hurricanes start a low pressure areas that intensify and major storms along their track. Terrorism, like the World Trade Center is different. We understand at one level that the terrorists are willing to kill for their fanatically cause, but we have great difficulty understanding why they would kill themselves and so many other innocents - it defies rational explanation or normal behavior and this is the root cause of our great anxiety. We cannot fully comprehend the motivation and action. The random, unprovoked nature of the attack is what unnerves us. We are left feeling it could happen any time, any place, to any of us and this sends a chilling fear through us all.
Normal Reactions to Terror The normal reactions to terror attacks is a series of emotions that vary according to the individual and to the circumstances of our exposure. For example, someone who survived the World Trade Center is likely to have a much different reaction than those of us on Seabrook. Nevertheless, we all have a range of normal reactions. These are fear, apprehension, vulnerability, hopelessness, grief, anger and a general anxiety - generally expressed as loss of confidence. The way each of us reacts has been proven by experts who have studied the reactions to terror by a combination of complex prior experiences and our psychological makeup - perhaps our genetic makeup. People who have themselves had recent trauma such as loss of a loved one, a car accident, divorce or a host of other stressful events are more likely to have greater difficulty with this latest national trauma. Those who have successfully dealt with traumatic events are more likely able to successfully deal with this one. Obstacles to success in dealing with the trauma are "guilt" - why did they get it in New York and all of us are living the good life down in Seabrook. Another obstacle successful dealing with this tragedy is a "he-man" mantra that I'm tough and this won't or can't bother me - this is a form of denial that is very unhealthy. It should bother us and we should feel badly, not just for the people in New York and Washington for ourselves, family, friends and country - even the world. The most devastating result of this to anyone is the development of a full-blown clinical depression, and if anyone believes this is happening to them they should seek professional assistance.
Acute Stress Reaction A less severe result than depression of terrorism is the onset of an acute stress reaction. This is defined as recurring thoughts of the incident, new fears or phobias, cessation of normal activities, survivor guilt, tremendous sense of loss, and a reluctance to discuss one's feelings with others - a sense of loss of control over your life. This acute stress reaction is common and generally is transient and does not require professional assistance as long as one recognizes the feelings and behavior and work with other to overcome them.
Coping with Trauma The American Psychological Association has given the following recommendations about the best ways to deal with major trauma in one's life. These are listed in the table. One of the most important things that we can easily control on the list is limiting our exposure to media coverage. Turn to other activities and subjects rather than the natural obsession of the media with the terror in America. Focus on more positive things about your life and our country. Certainly, stay in touch with family and friends - this is a healthy way to cope with the stress we all feel. There is no doubt that the many people who donated money, blood and other services for those involved in this American tragedy have found a healthy way of dealing with the trauma. The many church services and other public gatherings have also given us a healthy way of coping. Finally, I have seen a great number of American flags on our island and this, too, is our way of rebuilding our confidence in our country and each other. Coping with the Trauma of Terror* 1. Identify and acknowledge your feelings 2. Remember you have successfully dealt with other trauma 3. Talk to others about your feelings 4. Maintain your normal routine 5. Think positively 6. Do not preoccupy yourself with things you don't control 7. Limit media exposure to the events * From the American Psychological Association
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