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Trauma: Aftermath and Recovery

There was no escaping the trauma of the terrorist attack on our nation. Television sets across the country reported and replayed the horrible events of September 11, 2001. The emotional shock wave of this disaster radiated within every home and beyond our nation. A recent poll indicated that 98 percent of Americans were either watching the tragedy on the television or listening via radio. The shock of the televised images, combined with the anxiety, the need to understand what was happening, and the desire to gain a sense of control and protection left us mesmerized and confused.

The aftermath of the disaster can create turmoil of common physical and emotional responses. Although for most of us these initial stress reactions will pass with no debilitating effects, the prolonged threat associated with terrorist attack, much like war-zone stress where imminent danger lingers, creates a greater possibility for posttraumatic stress symptomolgy to occur.

The current literature on trauma recovery discusses four phases of responses that individuals and communities generally experience.

The first phase is the heroic phase. During this phase the community struggles to minimize damage and loss of life, and it can last up two weeks following the traumatic event.

The honeymoon phase focuses on major relief efforts concentrating on quick recovery, lifting of spirits, and creating hope. This phase may last several weeks to months. The disillusionment phase, sometimes called the second disaster, involves the realities of bureaucratic delays and other recovery set backs. The reconstruction phase begins with normal functioning gradually returning and the environment rebuilding and stabilizing. Knowing that there are phases of recovery may help to understand and cope with the trauma.

These responses take their toll on the mental health of everyone involved. Professionals are available if needed, but it is the support of family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues that allow the healing to begin and energize the rebuilding of resources. As difficult as it may seem, it is the restoring of normal daily functioning that will help everyone cope with this unimaginable event. In the end, it is the commonality of the experience and the humanity of individuals reaching out to each other that bring a community together and restore hope.}

Celeste A. Jones and Jean Schuldberg, Department of Social Work