For Immediate Release: September 19, 2001
Contact: DMS Communications (603) 650-1492
Taking Time To Heal
By Dartmouth Medical School Alumnus Dr. Ian Smith, WNBC medical correspondent and medical columnist for Time magazine.
NEW YORK, Sept. 19 -- When I crossed over the George Washington Bridge last Thursday afternoon after being stuck first in Omaha, Nebraska, then in Chicago, I must admit that my heart fell in my chest and I gasped as I looked across the Hudson River and in the direction of New York's famous skyline.
I saw the Empire State Building and then glanced south only to finally see with my own eyes what the rest of the world, including myself, had known for days -- the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were no longer gleaming so mightily in the sky. It was true, but after more than 48 hours and wall-to-coverage, I needed to see its absence with my own eyes. Now it's time to deal with it.
This is something that all of us will have to make adjustments to, whether it's someone who has lost a loved one in this horrific tragedy or knows of someone else who has suffered a loss. While there are calls being made from many government officials to return things to normalcy, it's important to remember that we are human beings, and feeling sad, angry, and helpless are absolutely normal and shouldn't be discouraged.
One of the biggest mistakes we can make in a tragic time like this is to try to move on too fast without coming to grips with the reality of this horror. Death, especially in this volume and brought about in the way of these terrorist attacks, can be extremely stressful. Traumatic experiences can predispose many people to a particularly debilitating condition called posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
This mental disorder results from exposure to an extreme traumatic stressor. What's important for you to recognize, however, are the features and diagnostic criteria for PTSD:
- Exposure to a traumatic stressor
- Avoiding a situation or the feeling of numbness
- Significant distress or impairment of functioning
- Symptoms of increased sensitivity, re-experiencing symptoms
- Duration of symptoms for at least one month
Treatment of PTSD ranges from medications to behavioral therapy, but prevention -- as in most illnesses -- leaves you in a much better position than when you have to treat a fully developed disorder. Coping with this horrible tragedy means being able to talk about your fears and pains as well as share stories with others. It's important for those who have been affected by even the images of this horror to take some time for themselves and relax, whether it's reading a novel or playing a round of golf.
Many governmental officials rightly insist that we return to our normal lives, but moving too fast and without reflection can be a mistake. It's normal and alright to hurt and cry. As a country we need to inhale, then exhale. Life can go on.
