By: Professor Avi Bleich, Chairperson, NATAL Steering Committee
For many years Isarel has been forced to live under difficult circumstances: war, terrorist attacks and other acts of violence. We find ourselves with shocked, frightened, mourning, angry and sad depending our proximity to the event. We ask ourselves, "Are we responding normally to abnormal events or is our response extraordinary and require professional attention?"
Three measurements may help us ascertain if we need assistance, thereby helping us to cope better:
1. Information
2. Change of attitude
3. Skills
Information
Information helps us understand where the (sometimes blurry) boundary between "normal" and pathological responses is located.
When we encounter traumatic situations, we are called upon to cope individually and to adapt to the situation. Therefore, it is important to explain the reactions we are likely to suffer, the emotional responses to stressful situations and the symptoms of disturbance in order to sketch the normal field and the border with the pathological.
What are traumatic situations? What are normal adaptive reactions? When do we begin discussing pathological reactions, severe stress reactions, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and clinical depression?
Beyond theoretical knowledge, there are two additional characteristics for defining both a pathological situation and the need for assistance: emotional distress and/or functional difficulty (principal functional limitations) in interpersonal relationships, daily activity and employment or studies.
Change of Attitude
Certain attitudes are likely to make it difficult for a person to request assistance, including stigmas and a sense of shame. A person can have difficulty admitting to himself that he needs help because he was socialized to cope by himself and that any disclosure of distress or crisis is a sign of weakness, a blemish and an embarrassment.
There is a lack of understanding and basic acceptance that the psychological realm, like the physical, includes a range of normal reactions and that beyond the normal reactions, there is a range pathological reactions. This range is primarily characterized by psychological distress and functional difficulty. If these exist, it is necessary to seek professional assistance.
Skills
In addition to gathering information and explanations about the symptoms, it is possible for a person to acquire coping skills such as; the use of relaxation techniques to deal with fear, researching one's problems, interpersonal communications skills, journaling and guidance about how to communicate with others and accept advice and/or support. In general, it is advisable to share with people who are close, communicate your feelings and consult.
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