| sychological challenges that confront us when we are | | | | thinking or talking about the traumatic event, or using |
| exposed to catastrophic news can be seen in our | | | | alcohol or drugs to avoid painful thoughts and feelings. |
| faces and postures immediately. They are the mind's | | | | The natural course of coming to terms with a |
| automatic attempt to integrate and assimilate the brutal | | | | traumatic event involves oscillating between intrusion |
| reality of a traumatic event. | | | | and avoidance. We flip back and forth over the |
| When we receive a shocking cancer diagnosis, our | | | | course of minutes as well as over the course of days |
| normal assumptions are ruptured, and our | | | | and weeks. |
| understanding of the "rules" of daily living are shocked | | | | Hyperarousal: the third natural response comes from |
| and upset. Not only do we experience strong emotions | | | | the "fight or flight response", which is part of our |
| in these times, we actually lose our balance | | | | evolutionary heritage. This is manifest in disturbed |
| psychologically. This loss of stability and psychological | | | | sleep, trouble concentrating, being easily startled, and |
| equilibrium are what we aim to regain as we | | | | being overly watchful, on guard, and jumpy. |
| experience the waves of emotions in the weeks and | | | | Here are some ways to cope : |
| months that follow our exposure. | | | | Communicate |
| One important point to know and to remember is that | | | | Talk to those who want to and are able to listen. Be |
| the natural, common, and normal reactions that you | | | | aware that there will be times when others aren't able |
| experience may feel quite painful and may make you | | | | to or don't want to listen. |
| wonder if your mind is playing tricks on you. In the vast | | | | Protect yourself from information overload |
| majority of cases, your reactions are normal, even if | | | | Turn away from the information overload -turn off the |
| they are very strong and upsetting. | | | | television or radio, and stop surfing the Internet for the |
| There are three kinds of experience that most people | | | | latest bulletin. Our need for information is driven by our |
| have: | | | | need to regain a sense of control, but when the world |
| Intrusion: this bad dreams or nightmares, anxiety or | | | | is still rocking, real control is not yet available. |
| fear when exposed to reminders of the trauma, painful | | | | Avoid 'escapist' behavior |
| thoughts about what happened, and losing track of the | | | | Avoid alcohol, drugs, or immersion in work as a way to |
| present and feeling like what happened is happening | | | | distract yourself. Better to deal with the painful feelings |
| again. | | | | as they happen than to put them aside. |
| Avoidance: this takes the form of social isolation, not | | | | Time is the great healer for those exposed to trauma. |