After the turmoil

Alexander is 46 years old and has never been to the Twin Towers, although he has been living in Manhattan for many years. None of his loved ones were hurt on September 11, 2001, but a year later he felt that his life had changed. Work in the art gallery ceased to please, learning Italian got sick, teenage children caused constant irritation, reaching rage. Almost every night he woke up in a cold sweat and could not sleep. At the doctor’s appointment, Alexander was surprised to learn that his neighbors were dealing with similar complaints.

Olga is a 20-year-old Moscow student. On the morning of March 29, she almost ran from the metro to the institute, so as not to be late. Two students who arrived at the Park Kultury station a little later did not come at all that day. Since then, not a day goes by that Olga does not imagine herself in their place. She still couldn’t bring herself to get on the subway. “It seems that nothing bad is happening now, but I always wait for something to happen, I startle at any sound,” says Olga. – When there are a lot of people around, I feel uncomfortable, I always want to be alone. I started smoking a pack a day. Everyone’s life goes on, but I seem to be frozen. Perhaps it will pass later?

Echoes of trauma

Alexander and Olga, for all the difference in their experiences and feelings, are talking about the same thing: long after the events that caused emotional shock (whether it be a man-made disaster, the death of loved ones, violence or a terrorist attack), a painful reaction can persist. “At first, any of us may experience strong fear, anger, nervous excitement, or, conversely, emotional numbness,” explains psychologist Anna Fenko. “However, if such symptoms disrupt the usual rhythm of life (for example, a person is afraid to ride the subway and is forced to quit his job) and last more than a month, we can talk about acute post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), more than three months – about chronic.” Stress may not manifest itself immediately or increase over the years: two years after the September 11 attacks, 14% of those who live near the blown up towers suffered from post-traumatic stress, and in 2007 there were already 19%.

Human factor

Tragic events caused by the deliberate actions of people are especially traumatic for us. Natural disasters or accidents that occur due to negligence or an accidental combination of circumstances are experienced less hard. “In a situation of danger, we tend to act in order to avoid it or at least reduce it,” says American psychiatrist Charles Marmar. “When it comes to suicide bombers, precautions just don’t work.” That is why after the terrorist attacks, many experience fear and confusion. “If people died in the metro as a result of a malfunction of equipment or a driver’s mistake, this would also be a tragedy,” agrees Anna Fenko. “But surviving it is easier than coming to terms with the idea that someone wanted to kill as many people as possible.” The rejection of violence is more pronounced in women, so the risk of developing post-traumatic syndrome is higher for them. The trauma experienced can even be inherited: signs of post-traumatic stress were noted in 85% of children and 60% of grandchildren of concentration camp prisoners and victims of Stalinist repressions.

How to help yourself

Strong negative emotions (fear, despair, panic) seem out of place, especially if the tragedy did not directly affect us. Hence the desire to restrain, not to show their feelings. However, unexpressed emotions increase internal tension and anxiety, gradually destroying our lives. Therefore, it is so important to talk about your feelings with relatives, friends or psychologists, our experts say. It is better to keep the usual way of life and even in a bleak mood not to neglect small joys. And of course, you should not watch TV programs in which tragic events are repeatedly discussed. “Visual media is too emotionally saturated, especially for those who see tragic pictures in their minds again and again,” says psychotherapist Anna Varga. “It is better to get news from newspapers or on the Internet.”

However, if the disorder nevertheless arose, it should not be left unattended. If there is an understanding of the situation and a desire to overcome the consequences of stress, psychotherapy can provide effective assistance. Our experts list among other approaches empathic listening, relaxation training, desensitization to traumatic events combined with mild antidepressants.