Introduction:
A study shows that 7 out of every 10 Americans have had trouble dealing with the traumatic effects of September 11th. That’s why news channel 3 and UT Medical Group teamed up to help people deal with the tragedy with an online chat with renowned psychologist Dr. Allen Battle. Many of us have been on somewhat of an emotional rollercoaster these past two weeks...from grief to fear to anger.
Thursday, September 27th, news channel 3 held a live online chat with a Mid-South psychologist from UT Medical Group so viewers could talk about their feelings. Dr. Battle answered many questions online. The questions ranged from how to talk to your children about the attacks...to how to deal with a newfound fear of flying. Dr. Battle says, "the interesting thing is that our mind has build in defenses to help us to handle such things, it's very much the same as the early part of experiencing death and dying." He also says first there is denial and shock, and then anger or sadness, depending on the individual... he says each one of us has to work through our own feelings, and not be afraid to ask for help.
Web Chat:
Moderator: Hello thanks for joining us. We will be discussing the after-effects of the terrorist attack on America with a medical specialist in a few minutes. If you have any questions for the panel, you may send your questions in now. We will be discussing psychological effects of the attack. Fear, anxiety and depression - how do we deal with our emotions following an attack like the one on September 11th?
Q: As an adult, is it normal to have recurring nightmares about the terrorist attack?
Dr. Battle: Recurrent nightmares are highly normal after a person has experienced an extreme trauma. This is a way the mind handles the reaction to such a horrible event. However the person should recover from the intensity and frequency of the nightmares within 10 days to 2 weeks. If they continue in the same intensity and frequency, i suggest they get professional help.
Q: How do you deal with your children with all the questions and we are dealing with all hurt and pain we are feeling for the family whose life have been turn upside down... I have a 12 year old daughter who is going to be going on out of town field trips this year, how do I quell my fears and also reassure her without lying to her, that she should be safe.
Dr. Battle: The great danger of trying to explain a horrible event like this to children is that we assume that they have the same understanding of the seriousness of it that adults have. We over explain. Listen carefully to what they are saying, avoid the use of technical terms and try to imagine yourself as a child and how you would see things. Be sure that you don't take any of their questions as trivial and as with adults, children if they continue to have nightmares, dreams, or flashbacks about the event. Do not hesitate to seek mental health intervention. This above response was about how to talk to your children about the recent terrorist events.
Q: What should a person do if they fear traveling on an airplane now? What can you do if you have a fear of flying now and need to fly?
Dr. Battle: As for those who have a fear of flying now, I would carefully contact the airline for reassurance measures regarding safety and security if the fear of flying becomes so intense that you are unable to fly although business and family matter have to be carried out, you may benefit seeking psychiatric help which may include a form of brief therapy both psychological and through the use of medication therapy.
Q: I can't believe that this terrible thing happened. Kaboom. It is just soo... scary:I wish it would all just have been a scary dream and everybody could be friends.
Q: My son is asking all the question...i don't have any answers....Question like "moma do you think an airplane will crash into my school...or into my place of work...How do the children of the missing parent are feeling?
Q: First of all it is not necessary to lie, what happened in New York and Washington help her to see for example that in all the years for this horrible event nothing like that happened. Indeed, that terrorist used a dramatic event to inspire terror in all of us now our government and all of us have been warned and we are on our guard. And she is safe, you may add you know that I love you and I will go out of my way to keep you safe. And will never let you go now if I did not know that you will be safe.
Q: I was on my way to school on the day of the tragedy and I find myself afraid to go to class for fear i will miss something. I cannot focus and I cannot help but to wonder if this is just the beginning of something really huge Is this common feel this way...it is really interfering in my daily life. I just want to sit at home and watch the news.
Dr. Battle: This is a normal reaction to a stressful event that hardly anyone in our country has experienced. In a practical sense, maybe choosing a friend that will walk with you during times that you have to carry on the business of you day. Yes, there is no question that this reaction is a normal one. It is important to note, however, that to the degree that we allow that hypervigilance to interfere with our daily activities. We are allowing our reactions to control us instead of our having our response as healthy one.
Q: I seem to be overly sensitive to my surroundings, i.e.: suspicious looking people, loud noises. Is this a normal reaction after such an event as NY and DC?
Q: We will get that evil person who did it //haha. This is for all effected by this.
Q: People from my church went to New York to make food...and they saw Sheryl Crow and Dave Letterman rented them a car to get there and to come home! People would stop and clap for them and say thank you
Moderator: You may be experiencing a wide range of emotions following the attacks last week. If you have questions or comments, please send them in now.
Q: I have fears about the Amtrak trains and Buses......they seem to be focusing only on the airlines and forgetting about the other forms of transportation......why do they have to wait for bad things to happen before they try to protect us? It's going to get worst. I have changed my mind once again about trying to have a child. I'm afraid of what might happen in the future. I would have to have fertility test to have a child. I started years ago but stopped. I had finally gotten up the nerve again.....now this tragedy.
Dr. Battle: if by 'focus you mean that you cannot concentrate even on the most basic and important aspects of you life then I will suggest that you get some professional help. However, if you mean that you are having interference in your ability to concentrate then that problem should naturally correct itself in several weeks. You will find that if you concentrate upon events, places, activities, that you find extremely enjoyable and peaceful then this type of mental exercise can frequently break one loose. Take some time and allow the enormity of this event to wear out of your consciousness. You already it seems, have had a lot of stresses and it is safe to say that the recent events are exacerbating your current stresses.
Q: I am not scared if the world was to end. Its just that is will not end. It will be a new beginning. Thanks for the advice I really do want to move on and show the people who did this we will go on// there was a little note a girl wrote to her daddy that said "Daddy, I will see you in heaven when I die ". It was sooo sad.
Q: I wish that we all could be friends
Q: I keep my children (Ages4 and 6) away from the TV am I doing the right thing? I dont know what to tell them and how much I should. I'm afraid I'm sheltering them to much...
Q: This is to all effected by this. You should tell them they need to know that god will protect them but do what you think is right, cause I am not a parent 'cause
Dr. Battle: Allowing yourself time to make it through this event can be part of your healing surrounding this event. However, if stressful feelings continue to predominate your thoughts regarding decisions to become a mother, you would probably benefit from mental health support services.
Q: You are right.....I will continue to pray and wait on God...... Thanks..... :-)
Q: There seems to be a spiritual awakening because of this tragedy. Is this common during traumatic events?
Dr. Battle: Spirituality can serve as a support through any traumatic situation. Yes that is quite common for individuals to look for higher explanations for events that are so tragic. In sharing our experiences, allows people to begin the healing process of something that has affected so many people.
Q: I seem to be having flashbacks to my time in Vietnam. I thought I was past this, but it seems that I keep thinking more and more about it. Why would all of the sudden I start thinking about it again?
Dr. Battle: This is a common phenonenom in that the closeness of association brings back memories that may be many years old. I take it that you did have from the VA some help in handling the original Vietnam experiences. If not and indeed if you are having today as much problems if you did on the 11th then I will suggest you should go to the VA outpatient department for help. The longer this kind of reaction is allowed to go on the more difficult to eradicate it.
Q: I have always had a fear of flying but I had made up my mind to fly this December. Planning a trip to New York, of all places to the Windows of the World above The Trade Center. Now I am afraid to fly and afraid of coming anywhere near New York. How can I overcome this fear?
Q: Isn't it best to just realize it is reality and to just cry and go on? I suffered panic for 12 years and I have found that you have to face what is thrown your way, Peace and just go on living.
Dr. Battle: Yes, having the appropriate emotions that come to us at a time like this enables us then to put it behind us and move on with our life. The people who get into the most serious and lasting trouble after an event like this are those who deny and repress their natural reactions.
Q: I am not repressing, I cry, I hurt, I am scared but not going to let it get me because I have learned one thing, the sun will come out tomorrow. And there is more love than hate in the world, so you all be sweet and hang in there.
Q: I have a friend who is obsessed about finding information on television about going to war. He really isn't motivated to do anything else. What should he do?
Dr. Battle: First of all has this friend suffered obsessions or compulsions in the past. If so has he been treated for it? An event of this magnitude very frequently exacerbates old lingering problems and therefore even though the content of the obsession is now different the underlying problem is the same and definitely needs professional help. Even if he is not obsessive' compulsive the length of time that has elapsed since the murders indicates that he is not recovering normally and should receive professional help.
Q: This was a great chat.........I look forward to joining again...........
Moderator: Thanks…Thanks to everyone for joining us
