Disasters and Resiliency

The earthquake in New Zealand, the piracy and killings in Africa, tsunamis, the death of your father...all disasterous to those affected by the trauma and loss associated with them. Are there key characteristics found among people who survive, mentally and physically, these events?

Common traits of people who survive crises well include feeling hopeful, a sense of belonging, positivity, optimism, tenacity, and confidence.

Hope and belief in yourself and your abilities is critical to a positive outcome. Simply expecting  positive results is tantamount to realizing a positive outcome.  Being "positively superstitious" such as believing in luck or a higher power, believing that you can do it-whatever it might be, believing that things will work out as well as they can and that your actions are supportive of this outcome while recognizing the reality of the situation and believing that outside sources are working for your best interests and personal welfare are examples of how survivors think.

Resilient people don't sugar coat what has happened-they understand the magnitude of what they have lost, but they also learn to forgive, others and themselves for their mistakes and for surviving.  They give themselves reason to live and accept their good qualities. They develop a plan and take action.  They establish routines, celebrate all successes no matter how small, keep moving forward and never give up.

Being a part of a larger community who stands by, supports, and accepts you increases well-being and decreases traumatization.

Our hearts go out to the people of Japan, especially at this time. In the larger scope of surviving they are struggling amid devastation to simply get basic needs met.  Please envelop them in the healing power of the larger world community.

To view or not to view-that is the choice.

As with any loss, allowing individuals a choice regarding viewing the body of their loved one is the most helpful route.  Researchers Alison Chapple and Sue Ziebland, recently reported in the British Journal of Medicine results of their study of families who had a member die in traumatic or violent ways. Generally, even for those who felt some distress or had mixed feelings about seeing their loved one's body, they believed the decison to see or not to see it had been the right decision for them.  The study drives home the importance of not making assumptions about what individual members of a family would like to do under these circumstances.