• Feel very nervous, helpless, fearful, sad, or angry
• Feel hopeless about the future
• Feel detached or unconcerned about others
• Feel numb and unable to experience love or joy
• Be irritable or have outbursts of anger
• Become easily upset or agitated
• Have frequent distressing dreams or memories
• Avoid people, places and things related to the disaster
• Have trouble concentrating
• Feel things are unreal

Physical Reactions – How people physically react to a disaster varies. They may:

• Have an upset stomach, eat too much or too little, or have other
   gastrointestinal problems
• Experience a pounding heart, rapid breathing, sweating, or severe headache    when thinking about the disaster
• Have trouble falling to sleep, staying asleep, or sleeping too much
• Be on guard and constantly alert
• Be jumpy and startle easily at sudden noises
• Have a worsening of chronic medical problems
• Be exhausted

Help for yourself and other adults, There are a number of ways you can help yourself or others.

• Take care of yourself. Remember to H-A-L-T: Don’t get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. Eat right, get enough sleep, and share your thoughts and feelings with people around you. Learning how others are coping will help you feel less alone. If you need to talk and no one is on hand, call Project Liberty at SUNY Downstate Medical Center at (718) 270-2001, or 1-800-LIFENET, 24 hours a day. Someone will help you.

• Like many New Yorkers since September 11, you may need help with new problems, like the loss of a job or income. At 1-800-LIFENET, you will find up-to-date information on where to go for help, no matter what the problem is.

• Remember that stress can cause physical problems. It can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, worsen some conditions (like stomach problems) and make others (like diabetes and arthritis) harder to manage. So, if you’re under a doctor’s care, be sure to keep your appointments and take medications as prescribed.

• Rely on regular exercise and activities you enjoy to relieve stress and cope in a healthy way. Walking every day or managing stress with relaxation techniques can make a big difference in how you feel. Do the things you get pleasure from, such as watching a movie, having friends over, or reading a book.

• Get extra help to deal with grief if you were close to the disaster, were injured, or lost a relative or friend. Talk with your spiritual advisor or a friend. For free, private and confidential crisis counseling, call Project Liberty at SUNY Downstate Medical Center at (718) 270-2001.

• Stay away from drinking a lot of alcohol or using other substances to numb yourself. This will only make things worse in the long run. People with alcohol and substance abuse problems are more likely than others to develop more serious problems after a disaster like the World Trade Center attacks. If you think you have a problem, this is a good time to check it out. Call Project Liberty at SUNY Downstate Medical Center at (718) 270-2001, or 1-800-LIFENET, 24 hours a day. Someone will help you.


Help for children

A child’s reaction to the World Trade Center disaster will depend on many factors including whether the child was directly affected by the death of a parent or relative; the age of the child; whether the child has experienced trauma in the past; and how much of the disaster the child witnessed in person or on TV. Loss of trust in adults and fear of the event occurring again are responses seen in many children and teens exposed to traumatic events. Other reactions vary according to age.

• Children 5 years of age and younger – Typical reactions include fear of being separated from a parent, fear of the dark, increased crying, clinging to a parent, and a return to younger behavior, such as thumb sucking and bed-wetting.

• Children from ages 6 to 11 – Common responses may include withdrawal, disruptive behavior, trouble paying attention, avoidance of school, sleep problems, irritability, outbursts of anger, and stomachaches.

• Adolescents – Teens show symptoms more like those of adults, including flashbacks, nightmares, emotional numbing, depression, substance abuse, and antisocial behavior; they may also feel extreme guilt because of a failure to prevent injury or loss of life.

• Parents and other adults can help children cope. Take time to listen and not pass judgment. Let children know that their feelings are normal and that it is okay to express them. Let them know that it is okay to cry and be sad and be sure they know they do not have to be “tough.” If you would like more help with reassuring your children or others, call, call Project Liberty at SUNY Downstate. The staff of Project Liberty at SUNY Downstate will help you figure out what makes the most sense for you and your children’s needs.


When problems seem to be getting worse

Emotional and physical reactions to the September 11 attacks are normal. For many people, these reactions are short-lived. For others, they go on. It is a good idea to seek professional help if you feel that reactions to the disaster are lasting too long or getting worse instead of better. If you are unable to manage day-to-day activities such as eating and bathing; if you cannot take care of your children; if you feel like hurting yourself or others; if you are relying on alcohol or drugs to cope; or if you have others fears, please get help immediately! Talk to someone you trust, or call Project Liberty at SUNY Downstate at (718) 270-2001, or 1-800-LIFENET, 24 hours a day. Someone will help you.