September 11....Everyday
Published: 09/22/2011 by Russ Hatcher, Pharm.D.
Q: I was in New York City on September 11, 2001 in a building near the towers. It’s been 10 years, but the nightmares and constant fear are too much for me to handle. I don’t think I can take much more. Why can’t I get past this?
A: I will never begin to understand the pain, confusion and absolute terror that you experienced on that day. For most of us, the attacks of 9/11 are a not too distant memory; but, for some people, like you, the day has been relived every day for 10 years. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a very serious, and often untreated, ailment. PTSD can affect people after a variety of situations that involve intense fear, helplessness or horror such as a natural disaster, war, sexual assault or the loss of one’s entire finances in a failing economy. For some people, the resulting terror following a traumatic event will gradually go away after some time. However, the majority of people require assistance from family, friends and health care professionals in order to improve quality of life. The important thing to keep in mind is that this terror that you’re experiencing is not due to personal weakness. There are actually processes in the brain that prevent you from being able to cope with the situational trauma. Often times, family members and close friends will also need counseling because they become angry at or feel cut off from the victim. Victims who seek help have a much better chance of recovering, and also recover faster than those who don’t get help. Reach out to a grief counselor, physician, psychologist, religious leader, human resources, support group or any trusted person who can connect you with professionals who are dedicated to helping you. I don’t know who you are, but my heart goes out to you. Please keep in contact to keep us updated on your progress.
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