Resilient spirits Healing from extreme trauma

June 21, 2006

by Miranda Castro FSHom, RSHom(NA), CC

The events of September 11 were catastrophically devastating - beyond mythic proportions-leaving us all reeling. In the aftermath of a tragic or violent act, healing starts immediately as people rally to support each other. The ability of people to "stand shoulder to shoulder" to help and comfort each other, the ability of people to heal is truly astonishing; the ability of the human spirit to heal appears to be virtually limitless.

Severe traumatic stress Because of the violence of the attacks and the number of deaths, the DSM-IV * (the psychiatrist's bible of diagnosis) classifies the events of September 11 as extreme trauma, meeting the criteria for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Health care professionals should always take traumatic stress and its sequel-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder-seriously. They are a potential pre-cursor to the development of disease-physical, emotional and/or mental-as all homeopaths know. In that so many of us witnessed the attacks on the World Trade Center as they happened, on our televisions, we are all vulnerable. In that so many of us travel at least once a year by plane, we are all scared. In that so many people died or were injured in the attacks, so many of us are connected. In that there were more than 60 countries represented by people who were hurt or killed, we are all touched.

Candles of hope, candles of peace At work (at our humble little homeopathic software company) we sat together and talked, and shared our feelings. Like so many millions of others. We opened our hearts to the stories of those whose lives have been shattered, to their pain and suffering. We named our fears and cried over so many losses. We shared information and incredulity. In talking we tried to understand the horror. We sought to understand what the disasters meant-for each of us as individuals, for our larger communities, for our country-and for our world. And largely failed. We tried to come to terms with how life can go on and started to do so. Reluctantly. And we, like millions of others, lit candles. We lit a candle to the spirit of resilience that resides remarkably within us all. We lit a candle to peace, one to hope and one to picking up the pieces. We ask many questions. Questions that are largely unanswerable. What can we learn from this? What does it mean? How can we help? What really happened? Why did it happen? Why? And so the question "Why?" marches on, invading our psychic and mental airspaces, multiplying itself and clamoring to be answered, finding a place in our unconscious to hide if ignored.

Facing our feelings A tragedy is always accompanied by a difficult package of feelings that includes a wanting to blame - to find someone or something to account for what happened. The victims sometimes take the fall. In a natural disaster it's harder to blame the victims for what happened, but in the aftermath of an evil act, "blaming" surfaces in an understandable attempt to explain why a thing happened. Blaming helps make sense of a violent act. It isn't a random event any more. And so there is a way in which terror makes victims of us all. It's a tragic fact that bad things happen to good people. Every day. Worse still - good things happen to bad people Incomprehensibly. In the face of a violent act we face our own death. This is usually a shock. It's common to suppress feelings of shock and terror and become numb or cut off. This can surface as a simple decrease in enjoyment. The world is not as bright or enjoyable as it was. Or there can be more serious feelings of detachment (and disassociation). At the other end of the spectrum, some people can become overwhelmed by feelings of anxiety or fear that may paralyze them and make it untenable for them to get on with their lives-to leave their houses for example. Disbelief holds the pain at bay. Unbelievable, unbearable losses and incomprehensible shocks demand tremendous inner adjustments so as not to crumble and fall apart at the seams. Anger soothes sorrow. Rage, bitterness, hatred, a desire for revenge - all alleviate helplessness. Feelings of loss and grief surface anyway. So much has been lost - people, a kind of innocence, safety, trust, faith. There can be guilt for those who survived. Hopelessness, depression and despair are just a step away. And rising to the surface of all this is an excruciating uncertainty-for those missing loved ones, for us all while we wait for what happens next. Sweet solace If we cannot make sense of this tragedy and have trouble understanding what it means, then at the very least we can start our healing by supporting and comforting each other in small ways.

As I write this it's been two weeks now. Two weeks today. We are still lighting candles and holding hands in a circle. We shall weave this ritual into the weft of our workplace. We have come to appreciate this coming together to continue to reflect, to share our values, to hear each other's perspectives, to discuss how we can be more active - rather than feel like we are participating merely as observers.

Healing reminders Here are a few gentle reminders of things to do to help you, as well as those close to you, heal after a traumatic, shocking event like those of September 11. Many of these ideas can be healthfully woven into our lives on a regular basis rather than pulling them out of the bag on special or tragic occasions.
* Pay close attention to your feelings, and the feelings of those around you - especially those (including yourself) who appear to be OK.
* Give space to feelings that surface, and accept and allow for all sorts of unexpected, unreasonable or even illogical responses.
* Talk - even if you are saying the same things over and over, even if you don't want to talk. Keep talking until you have nothing left to say. And then say it over.
* Keep a daily journal. Writing out your thoughts and feelings in an uncensored stream-of-consciousness can be deeply healing. If you write last thing at night it will be easier for your dreams to engage actively with you in your healing process.
* Write letters you are never, ever going to send and say everything you really think and feel, and more-to the terrorists, to the politicians, to the people. This may be the hardest thing to do - and the most healing.
* Listen to your dreams - they can provide clues to your deeper feeling. Children love to do this.
* The emotional impact of traumatic images and suffering people can be devastating for some people. If you are one of those people, or know your children to be, then limit the amount of news you watch on TV or read in the papers. Restrict yourself to listening to the news once a day on NPR if you have to keep in touch.
* Remember the power of exercise to release tension. Encourage your body to stamp, shake, swim, chop or dig out angry feelings or simply let off steam with any type of exercise - aerobic or otherwise. Your heart will thank you.

Nurture your spirit.
And here are some extras to help your spirit heal
* Find something to connect with that feeds your everyday spirit: the earth, God, a flower, water running over smooth pebbles, a baby's giggles or the laughter of small children, watching dawn rise, connecting with an old friend or relative.
* Engage in a little creativity to nurture your private healing process: sing your heart out, dance like nobody's watching, cook up a storm, pull a poem out of your own depths, make a quilt or a dry stone wall. * Reflect or pray or meditate every day to give your internal chatter a rest and your deeper thoughts, feelings and insights an opportunity to rise to your surface.

Get expert help If you are experienced in using homeopathy at home, your health is basically sound and you have had a generally mild response to a traumatic event then see if one of the homeopathic remedies below fit your picture. If your symptoms are severe or prolonged then you will need professional help.
* Check in with your local homeopath. Thank goodness for homeopathy's gentle administrations at times like this. To provide a healing relief for those who are in shock or in mourning, for those who are scared and anxious, for those who can't sleep or are just plain worn out.
* Get support from a psychotherapist experienced in trauma counseling - if the feelings that surface are worryingly intense or you are not able to pick up your pieces. If you feel yourself to be stuck in an anxious or angry or depressed state then don't struggle on without some professional help.
* The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is used by psychiatrists, doctors, psychologists and psychotherapists to diagnose and differentiate between mental and emotional disorders.