THE COMPASSIONATE CIVIC ORGANIZATION
in the AFTERMATH of DISASTER
by Susan Bodnar, Ph.D.
A young woman with two children in a double stroller passed by a young policeman.
She stopped and handed him a flower. "Thank you," she said. He winked
with appreciation then muttered, "The last time this happened was in
Woodstock, right? Chirping Chicken sent barrels of food to the local
fire department every time an engine pulled in. Seven members of the
company are missing at Ground Zero. Churches, synagogues and temples
are running supplies to the rescue workers, organizing blood drives
and holding prayer services and vigils. Metal workers, truckers and
other laborers descended upon New York. Our country's civic organizations
have been in high performance and their members have been true heroes
of this disaster. From Ground Zero to Ground Everywhere members of civic
organizations have shared this trauma with their unknown colleagues.
The recovery process promises to be a very long-term process.
1. RECOVER
Your members have gone and will be going through a major heroic effort. There
will be many emotions. People will feel depression and fatigue. The
attention and focus will be helpful, but at some point it will stop.
Your members may feel empty, lost, confused and uncertain about the
future. Provide support, and nurturance. Allow a mourning process. Expect
things to be chaotic for a while. Rest as much as possible. Praise everybody
for a long time.
2. ENJOY
Make the best of the society's discovery of your importance. Don't feel guilty.
You do matter. You are heroes, all the time, each and every one of you.
Whether you conduct prayer services, put out fires, keep the streets
safe, or build our buildings, you are there for us when it really matters.
3. WRITE
Get people in your community to write about their experiences. Communicate
with others and share the expertise you have learned. Be available for
public speaking and school visits.
4. REMAIN VISIBLE
Seeing you will make people feel safer. Know this and act accordingly.
5. CREATE INFORMAL STRUCTURES FOR RELATEDNESS
Sponsor more picnics and get-togethers. Use the organization's ongoing activities
to promote relationships. Don't feel uncomfortable about engaging a
mental health consultant to run educational workshops or to become part
of the community. Sometimes it is okay to actively engage the knowledge
of others. But then, make the knowledge your own. Put it into practice
in the manner that works best for you and your organization.
6. MAINTAIN FRIENDSHIPS
When people go through a traumatic experience together they can become very
intimate with one another. Keep these relationships. You will know some
of these people like no other.
7. SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER
It will be very hard to get back to the workings of an ordinary day. Some
people may perform less efficiently. Many people in your organization
will feel very guilty. Survival guilt causes people to become punitive.
Don't let this happen. The best antidote to trauma is to reconnect with
one's power. If someone is behaving in a less than optimal manner, jump
in and help.
8. PROTECT YOURSELVES
As civic helpers you have borne the brunt of this national trauma. You will
feel very vulnerable because you are. You have given all you had to
others. It will take a long time to refuel your psychic energy. This
is okay. Take care of each other until you feel stronger.
9. CREATE MEMORIAL PROJECTS
If you haven't eulogized or attended a funeral of someone you know, by extension
of your role in a civic organization you are connected to every loss.
Mark the loss. Remember the people. Make a statue. Build a building.
Name a firetruck. Never forget.
10. VALUE EACH OTHER
You will never feel the same about one another.
Susan Bodnar, Ph.D. is a New York City clinical psychologist
and psychoanalyst with anthropological training. She has collaborated
with groups that have experienced trauma to support the development
of care-taking initiatives within their own communities. She is now
in private practice.
09/24/01
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