Coping with a terrorist attacks: What victims and survivors could do?

How to take care of and help yourself after a disaster.
Copyright 2007 © Network of Associations of Victims of Terrorism.

The emotional effect caused by the recent terrorist attacks can affect all kinds of people: the injured, families of those who died, friends, rescue and healthcare personnel, witnesses of the event, volunteers, journalists, and in general many people who feel affected by the tragedy, even despite having been far from the place. Those who have witnessed the event or have lost loved ones are most exposed to more intense reactions and the people who found about and saw the consequences of the explosions on the television may also feel very irritated. Common reactions after traumatic events such as this terrorist attack include feeling afraid, sad, horrified, powerless, angry, overwhelmed, confused, absent, emotionally numb or disoriented.

Those affected may suffer from nightmares or depressive thoughts or “photographic” images which suddenly come to mind. Younger people may react by becoming irritated or seeming absent. All of these are normal responses to stressful events. With the help of family, friends and colleagues, and in general with the solidarity of society as a whole, most people gradually improve with time.

What can be done to deal with this situation?

o Spend more time with other people. Facing up to times of stress is easier when people help each other.

o If you think it is helpful, speak to other people about how you feel. You must be willing to listen to others who need to talk about how they feel.

o Recover your daily routine. Old habits can be very comforting.

o Take time to grieve and cry if necessary. To feel better after a time you have to let your feelings out, instead of repressing or hiding them.

o Ask your family, friends, spiritual advisers or any social resource for support and help.

o Participate in or join support groups.

o Set yourself small goals in order to overcome big problems. Do things one at a time, instead of trying to do everything at once.

o Do not neglect eating, and take time to walk, stretch, do exercise, and relax even if it is only for a few minutes a day.

o Make sure you get enough sleep and rest. In times of great stress more sleep than usual is required.

o Do something that makes you feel good, such as bathing with hotwater, going for a walk, sitting in the sun or stroking a pet.

o If you are trying to do too much, try to do less, leaving for later or just missing out some things that are not absolutely necessary.

o Find something positive and altruistic to do such as give blood or donate money to help the victims of the disaster, collaborate with professionals and volunteers who are dealing with the consequences of the terrorist attack.

o Escape from the tension of the event: don’t watch so much news, switch off the television and find distraction in doing something you like.

How to act with children.

o Let them know you understand how they feel.

o Tell them that they are really safe.

o Maintain the normal routine. o Do not let them see many shocking images of the attack.

When to seek more help.

Some people may need additional help in order to overcome the psychological consequences of a traumatic event. The people directly affected by the tragedy, children and adolescents, people who have experienced other traumas and people with emotional problems are very pre-disposed to needing professional help. A person may need additional help if one month after the event, or even before that if the person is suffering a great deal or feels very incapacitated, the person:

o Still fees very shocked or afraid, almost all the time.

o Acts very differently compared to how he or she acted before the trauma.

o Cannot work, study, take care of the children or the house.
o Has worse personal relationships.

o Takes drugs or drinks a lot.

o Feels very nervous or has a lot of nightmares.

o Cannot stop thinking about the terrorist attack.

o Is unable to enjoy life in any way.