Coping with trauma and stress
Sudden and unexpected death
In cases of sudden death, family and friends are often left extremely shocked and numb with no opportunity to say goodbye or I love you, or to resolve unfinished emotions. When in addition to being sudden, a death is violent, was random and/or preventable, the response is layered and complex. Sudden deaths shatter the worlds of friends and families, leaving the survivors feeling shaken, unsure, unsafe and understandably, vulnerable.
 Loss — death — that happens in a very public way is more difficult. The expectation that people suffering from a loss will behave in a given way, will share warm memories of the person or people who have died and will be comforted immediately may cause the people who are left to respond as though they have come to terms with what has happened. These responses have been termed pseudo-grief; grieving people are simply going through the motions of what is expected. Once the spotlight has gone away they will need sustained support of family and friends. They will — each in their own way — need to find closure and cope with the loss they will feel.
In a large sense, after a very public and violent tragedy each person is affected and many people find something or someone in the situation to which they relate. Through this large-scale grief, each must integrate the knowledge that death is always a possibility. Knowing this, do we treasure more moments of each day? Do we reach out to those around us? Do we review and reaffirm every day those spiritual values that give our life meaning?
These resources are designed to explain some of the psychological issues that surface for individuals during a crisis, provide information to help identify individuals who need professional help, give coping strategies and suggest ways that we can help one another through the aftermath of a crisis.
Natural disasters
A special help for congregations
Flooding Along the Gulf Coast. Devastation along the Gulf Coast in the United States has provided vivid images of ruined buildings and shattered lives. While the next devastating occurrence cannot be predicted, storms, wildfires, floods, epidemics and other natural disasters seem to be a part of our lives. During what is always a prolonged recovery time, repair of buildings and structures will likely be completed long before the psychological scars of the people heal.
Although the specific agencies and organizations will vary
from community to community, disaster relief organizations,
the American Red Cross, pastors, counselors and therapists,
FEMA professionals and others who are skilled in helping people
cope with stress and traumatic situations should be identified and utilized.
After a disaster people
may function is "crisis mode," that
is, adrenaline keeps them working at a furious pace. While
this high level of activity may be very helpful — there
is much to do — it is also an effective way of delaying
the emotional effect of the reality of the disaster. One should
not assume that feelings of numbness and high energy mean that
one is immune from emotional impact.
The resources above can also be used in times of natural disaster. |
