Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
•
Talk about feelings as they arise, and be a good
listener to your co-workers.
see what really happened (which we all tend to
miss because trauma seems to speed events up
and we are just trying to survive).
•
Do not take anger too personally—it is often
an expression of frustration, guilt, or worry.
Taking every day one-at-a-time is essential in
tragedy's wake. Each day is a new opportunity to
FILL-UP
:
•
Give your co-workers recognition and appreci-
ation for a job well done.
•
Maintain as normal a routine and a pace of life
as possible, but take several days to “decom-
press” gradually.
Focus Inwardly on what is most important to you
and your family today (see attached Focusing
handout);
Look and Listen to learn what you and your
significant others are experiencing, so you will
remember what is important and let go of what
is not;
Understand Personally what these experiences
mean to you as a part of your life, so that you
will feel able to go on with your life and even
grow personally.
Attend a debriefing with co-workers, to share
your personal reactions and to get and give
emotional support:
•
Understand that it is perfectly normal to want to
talk about the tragedy, and equally normal not
to want to talk about it, so you and everyone else
can say only as much as you want or need to say.
•
Remember that everyone has a different
perspective on the incident, and yours may be
helpful to someone else just as listening to
others may help you to better understand what
happened and how you feel about it
.
[Developed by Julian D. Ford, Ph.D.
There is more information on the following
websites to aid responders and communities
affected by disaster (www.ctrp.org) and trauma
(www.ptsdfreedom.org)]
•
Expect disappointment, frustration, and
conflict, and respect your own and others'
rights to express these feelings—but do not get
stuck in blaming: a tragedy provokes anger
(“why did this have to happen?”) that can
lead to blaming co-workers or at parents or at
“the system,” and blame tends to be a source
of more problems rather than of solutions.
Appendix 11.2
Coping Effectively with Extreme Stress:
Focusing
Here's a practical way for you to deal effec-
tively with feeling emotionally overwhelmed,
confused, or shut-down.
Focusing
involves three steps—
SOS
—to gain
control of your emotions without hurting yourself
or shutting-down.
•
To get beyond blame, while acknowledging
real problems, talk about how you and your
colleagues can take steps to constructively make
your work environment safer, more humane,
more respectful, and more compassionate.
•
Do not be surprised if you experience mood
swings; instead of trying to vent every feeling
all at once, focus on one feeling at a time so
your emotions can begin to sort themselves out
(and you can feel in control but not numb).
Step 1: Slow down (Take a time out; calm
your body; One thought at a time)
Start by telling yourself:
“Slow down”
—
I
can deal with this if I just do one thing a time.”
•
Do not overwhelm yourself or others with your
experiences; focus on understanding how the
incident unfolded and how your thoughts and
feelings developed—like re-playing a film that
was going on fast-forward, slowly enough to
Step 2: Orient yourself (Bring your mind and
body back to present time/place)
Talk to yourself calmly:
“I can look around
and see that I am in a safe and familiar place.
I can feel my body sitting in this chair and feel
