CALL FOR TOLERANCE DURING PERIOD OF ADJUSTMENT
Call for tolerance during Period of adjustment
RESPONDING to recent newspaper reports which had highlighted a certain amount of frustration on the part of some of the bereaved families as to the workings of the statutory bodies, Elizabeth Capewell, an expert in tragedy and trauma counselling, had advised that such feelings are normal.
Writing last week, Mrs. Capewell commented, "The development of reactions after such a horrific disaster tend to follow a pattern. Following the early confusion, the community pulls together even more than usual. Once funeral and the early practical needs have been met, it is difficult for people to maintain this high level of cohesion as they have to get back to restoring their own lives.
"Even for those who can return to work and school, restoration is often a superficial activity, while the long journey of adjustment is only just beginning. Coping itself is hard work; people are exhausted by all the emotional and physical energy expended over the last months of hectic activity. Old differences, natural in any community, will begin to re-emerge, fuelled by exhaustion, and new ones will be highlighted. These are normally over money distribution, perceived inequalities in help received, memorials and different expectations about recovery. It is these differences that have to be managed in the community, in schools, the workplace and families. With tolerance understanding and help they can be resolved."
Ms Capewell, who worked with the people of Dunblane and Hungerford, went on to say that the pain that people have experienced is still intense. Additionally, she advised that there is a tremendous mix of, often contradictory, emotions some of which are difficult to admit.
"Anger is a particularly potent emotion commonly experienced after disaster. When anger can't be directed at the perpetrators, it may be subconsciously passed on to others who do not deserve it at all. Often it is directed at friends, family or God. Statutory bodies like the police and health services are also vulnerable targets."
Ms Capewell continued; "No organization is perfect, but they too are made up of human beings affected by the bomb and exhausted by the hours of extra disaster work on top of their normal work. They will already be wishing that there was more that they could do and will be easily demoralized by unfair attacks."
Outlining the need for tolerance and understanding for the different experiences that people have had as a result of the bomb, she went on to say that, one of the hardest things to accept will be the vastly different rates of adjustment.
Concluding, Ms Capewell well commented; "On the surface, many aspects of normal life have been restored but underneath this, the community is on a long and difficult journey of adjustment. I urge you all to deal openly with the differences, with the courage and vision that is held within the community so that they do not make the journey harder and more prolonged than it has to be."
RESPONDING to recent newspaper reports which had highlighted a certain amount of frustration on the part of some of the bereaved families as to the workings of the statutory bodies, Elizabeth Capewell, an expert in tragedy and trauma counselling, had advised that such feelings are normal.
Writing last week, Mrs. Capewell commented, "The development of reactions after such a horrific disaster tend to follow a pattern. Following the early confusion, the community pulls together even more than usual. Once funeral and the early practical needs have been met, it is difficult for people to maintain this high level of cohesion as they have to get back to restoring their own lives.
"Even for those who can return to work and school, restoration is often a superficial activity, while the long journey of adjustment is only just beginning. Coping itself is hard work; people are exhausted by all the emotional and physical energy expended over the last months of hectic activity. Old differences, natural in any community, will begin to re-emerge, fuelled by exhaustion, and new ones will be highlighted. These are normally over money distribution, perceived inequalities in help received, memorials and different expectations about recovery. It is these differences that have to be managed in the community, in schools, the workplace and families. With tolerance understanding and help they can be resolved."
Ms Capewell, who worked with the people of Dunblane and Hungerford, went on to say that the pain that people have experienced is still intense. Additionally, she advised that there is a tremendous mix of, often contradictory, emotions some of which are difficult to admit.
"Anger is a particularly potent emotion commonly experienced after disaster. When anger can't be directed at the perpetrators, it may be subconsciously passed on to others who do not deserve it at all. Often it is directed at friends, family or God. Statutory bodies like the police and health services are also vulnerable targets."
Ms Capewell continued; "No organization is perfect, but they too are made up of human beings affected by the bomb and exhausted by the hours of extra disaster work on top of their normal work. They will already be wishing that there was more that they could do and will be easily demoralized by unfair attacks."
Outlining the need for tolerance and understanding for the different experiences that people have had as a result of the bomb, she went on to say that, one of the hardest things to accept will be the vastly different rates of adjustment.
Concluding, Ms Capewell well commented; "On the surface, many aspects of normal life have been restored but underneath this, the community is on a long and difficult journey of adjustment. I urge you all to deal openly with the differences, with the courage and vision that is held within the community so that they do not make the journey harder and more prolonged than it has to be."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0660
Published Date: 22-Oct-98
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