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September 11, 2001 Never Forget

Ensconced in 110 stories of steel and concrete overlooking New York City, people were beginning their day. CEOs, secretaries, stockbrokers, police officers, waitresses from Windows on the World; human beings from all walks of life, about to share a common fate.

That morning, American Airlines Flight #11 left Boston at 7:59 a.m. enroute to Los Angeles. There were 92 people on that plane, a Boeing 767 carrying nearly 14,000 gallons of jet fuel and traveling at a speed of over 400 miles per hour. Hijacked by suicidal fanatics with a vendetta against the United States, AA #11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:45 a.m.

At first, we thought it was an accident.

Moments later, hijacked by members of the same group, United Airlines Flight #175 from Boston made the South Tower its target. It was carrying 65 people on board when impact occurred at 9:03 a.m.

By 9:05 a.m., we realized these events were no accident.

The aptly named Twin Towers, world icons of corporate power and hallmark symbols of NYC, later collapsed with an earth-shattering roar, accompanied by choking black smoke that blotted out the sun and traveled for miles. Debris rained upon the streets - and the people - of NYC.

The smoke is still visible today.

While the American people were still trying to process these horrific events, American Airlines Flight #77 crashed into the Pentagon, our Nation's great symbol of security. The Boeing 757 was operating from Washington's Dulles Airport to Los Angeles, carrying 58 people on board.

We then received word that yet another hijacked jet, United Airlines Flight #93 from Newark, had crashed in rural southwest Pennsylvania. That Boeing 757 was bound for San Francisco with 45 passengers on board. We have since learned that the passengers and crew aboard that jet refused to let the plane be used as a lethal weapon; overtaking the hijackers and causing the jet to crash into the Pennsylvania countryside.

The death toll from these tragic events is in the thousands; the injured list almost as long.

Now, rescue workers toil endlessly over rubble and debris, searching for the lost. Hoping for the living. Mourning their brethren, lost in the flaming, crumbling remnants of the buildings. Those brave heroes, now lost to us, were the ones who ran in when others were running out, sacrificing their own lives to ensure that as many other lives as possible could be saved.

While the Nation grieves for the loss of life and devastation to our Country, many people find themselves suffering after-effects of this trauma. Fear of impending war, grief over the loss of loved ones, shock and disbelief that these tragic events could unfold in our own backyard have many Americans reeling.

Such feelings are normal. They are part of what is known as "Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome."

The DSM-IV (Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders/Fourth Edition) classifies "Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome" as having the following criteria:

· The individual has experienced a traumatic event that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others, and the person's response involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror;

· The traumatic event is re-experienced in specific ways such as recurrent and intrusive distressing recollections or dreams of the event;

· Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma or numbing of general responsiveness;

· Persistent symptoms of increased arousal, such as hypervigilance or irritability; and

· The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in functioning.

The emotional aftershocks of these terrorist attacks are being felt by survivors, grieving families, media personnel, members of the community, the Country, and the world at large. Simply viewing the destruction and devastation on TV is enough to trigger these common reactions to such trauma.

The National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder notes that these are "normal emotional responses," and indicates that such feelings may dissipate as time goes on. The Center suggests several things you can do to cope with PTSS, including:

· Asking for support and help from your family, friends, church or other community resources; joining or developing support groups and spending time with others who understand;

· Talking about how you are feeling, and listening to others who need to verbalize how they feel;

· Returning to normal routine (familiar habits can be comforting);

· Grieving and crying if need be;

· Keeping stress at a minimum; taking one thing at a time instead of trying to do everything at once;

· Eating healthy food and taking time to exercise;

· Getting adequate rest and sleep (you may need more sleep than usual when you are stressed); and

· Find something positive you can do, i.e. giving blood, donating funds to help victims or joining the rescue and relief efforts in your community.

Children need to be reminded constantly that it's "ok to talk about it" and that you understand their feelings. Tell them repeatedly that they are safe and keep them in their usual routines (school, activities, etc.). Keep them from seeing too many frightening images of the events on TV or in the media.

Veterans of the Armed Forces may also find themselves suffering from PTSS as a result of this tragedy.

If after a month, the person or child still feels fearful or upset most of the time, exhibits significantly different behavior compared to prior to the trauma, can't care for themselves or their loved ones, is using drugs or drinking alcohol, can't stop thinking about the attack or has nightmares about it, and cannot find any joy in their life, they should seek the assistance of a professional mental health worker.

These attacks have not been just strikes against America, but against freedom itself. As we mourn our losses and try to comprehend the incomprehensible, we have become more unified now than at any other time in our Nation's history. The world mourns with us, and together, we shall overcome.

Where to Get - or Give - Help:

National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorders
http://ncptsd.org

For Veterans: Health Benefits and Services
http://va.gov/station/vetcenter

Anxiety Disorders Association of America
http://www.adaa.org

National Institute of Mental Health Anxiety Disorders
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/anxiety/anxiety/referral/mho.htm

American Red Cross
http://redcross.org

American Liberty Partnership
http://libertyunites.org

The United Way, 2 Park Ave., NYC, NY 10016 or call (212)-251-4035
http://www.uwnyc.org/

International Association of Fire Fighters or The New York Fraternal Order of Police Fund, 911 Police Plaza, c/o Robert Lucente, Hicksville, NY 11801 or call 888-NYS1FOP
http://www.iaff.org

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Copyright © by HCGuidone.
September 20, 2001.
In memory of the victims.