Reacting to a day of tragedy
April White
Many of us
feel emotionally drained and physically fatigued after a week of watching
and listening to news about the tragedy that struck our nation on September
11. Through our technologies we watched the World Trade Center towers
collapse, saw the Pentagon burning, and learned about a fourth plane crash
in Pennsylvania. The magnitude of such events can seem overwhelming.
Many of us
feel shocked and deeply wounded. Being able to so directly see and hear
the details of this tragedy has made it that much more real for us and
perhaps has increased our stress response.
Experiencing traumatic events even indirectly can elicit both emotional
and physical reactions. It seems obvious that directly experiencing a
trauma—such as losing a loved one or being uncertain about a loved
one’s safety—can bring on intense emotional and physical feelings,
but what we usually don’t think about is how indirectly witnessing
a tragedy can affect our overall sense of well-being.
You may have
watched the round-the-clock news coverage of rescue efforts and the replays
of the attack. You may have feared for your own safety and the safety
of your family. These feelings are a common response to traumatic events
whether we experience them directly or indirectly.
Although
you may not have experienced a direct loss from the events on September
11, you may nonetheless have felt tremendous personal effects. Some reactions
you may have felt or might currently be feeling are
• Physical
and mental fatigue
• Sore or tight muscles, especially in the neck or back
• Difficulty sleeping, or sleeping more
• Feeling a sense of disorientation
• Increased anxiety or fear
• Increased feelings of sadness or loss
• Difficulty concentrating or focusing
• Decreased or increased appetite
• Irritability and anger
• Withdrawing or isolating yourself from people
• Feeling depressed
Workplace
symptoms can include
• Impairment
of concentration and short term memory
• Careless mistakes or accidents
• Impatience and irritability
• Inappropriate or unexpected emotional behaviors
• Increased use of sick and vacation leave
• Increased absenteeism
• Lowered productivity
• A concentrated (but short-term) increase in productivity
These lists
are not exhaustive, but are intended to help us understand some of our
possible reactions to such devastating events. In the weeks following
those events it is important to give yourself a routine of sleep, to eat
regularly, and to seek support.
Try to identify
the things that make you feel relaxed, like exercising, reading, being
around family and friends, or arranging for personal time. It is easy
to forget about taking care of yourself when you are distracted by the
events around you. A list of resources for you and your family is at the
end of this article.
Campus
resources
• Staff
and Faculty Consultation Center (counseling), ext. 8360
• Student Counseling Center, ext. 8331
• Ombuds Office, ext. 6990
• Security Office, ext. 5000 (emergencies) or ext. 4702 (other)
• Residence Life, ext. 6194
• International Student Programs, ext. 6330
• Caltech Y, ext. 6163
• Minority Student Affairs, ext. 6208
• Women’s Center, ext. 3221
Web resources
Provides
information on conflict resolution, terrorism and international conflict
and is sponsored by the Conflict Resolution Information Source.
This site
is from the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and contains
information on managing stress in reaction to terrorist events.
www.opm.gov/ehs/pdf/trauma.pdf
A manager’s
handbook for handling traumatic events.
Provides
information on how to help with disaster relief.
Provided
by the American Friends Service Committee and includes resources and solutions
for peaceful and nonviolent retaliation.
Current news,
information, and resources.
Articles
and resources for parents and children.
April
White is the comanager of the Staff and Faculty Consultation Center.
Donating
blood
Blood donation
centers are currently overwhelmed with donors, but will have an ongoing
need for blood in the coming weeks and months. The Red Cross suggests
waiting a few days or weeks before donating.
Red Cross
Donation Center
81 North Lake Avenue (at Union) (currently taking names for future donations)
Huntington
Memorial Hospital
100 W. California Boulevard
Call (626) 397-5422 for appointments
In addition,
Human Resources will try to arrange a campus blood drive in the near future.
Monetary
donations
The Caltech
Y is coordinating monetary donations to go to various victim-aid and social-justice
organizations. Donations are being accepted at the Y office and the Caltech
Bookstore throughout the day, and at donation tables along the Olive Walk
and near the Red Door Café and the Keith Spalding Building. The
Y welcomes employees who can volunteer to staff a table, particularly
during orientation week, when many students are busy; contact the Y at
ext. 6163 to sign up. Checks can be made out to the Caltech Y and designated
for one of several organizations.
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