An Article for the Dunwoody
Crier September
2001
Marsha B.
Sauls, Ph.D.
770-668-0350 x 221
Our Dunwoody Community has not yet completely recovered from
the trauma of the tornado that was visited upon many of our neighbors. The losses of that event are still
visible. The events that occurred
nationally on Sept. 11 overlay the emotional and physical wounds of the
community’s recent past. This process is called complicated grief.
At these times, the current grief is more difficult to cope
with because it is intensified by past losses. Working through complicated
grief takes longer and it is particularly important to know that trauma is more
difficult to handle when experiencing complicated grief.
It is normal to have a myriad of feelings in response to
grief. During these times we experience “invisible wounds” of loss such
as: loss of person, loss of safety,
loss of hope, or loss of meaning. The
secondary trauma of “getting back to normal” is possible but seems a difficult
“walk through jello”.
Congratulations to our national and community leaders for
their response to the need for grieving as a Nation and as Community. The ceremonies in churches, synagogues and
public places that highlight our hurt and pray for comfort, individual
responses of unfurling flags, volunteering, and offering donations demonstrate
unity, support, and community and are important ingredients to healing.
The action steps of cleaning up, honoring lives lost, and
the struggling, planning and carrying out of plans to recreate safety for day
to day life are also keys to recovery, as are talking and keeping ourselves from
being isolated in pain.
After a trauma, life is never the same. There are always
permanent changes but we learn things.
So far, we have learned the depths of the evil in the hearts of
terrorists and it is now flagrantly public.
Now, the undeniable knowledge of that evil is uniting us globally in
order to overcome it. And we will.