The result, unfortunately, has been an increase in family violence
and especially child abuse. Parents, forced to spend an inordinate amount
of time with their kids (often in close quarters and surrounded by a lot
of strangers who are in the same predicament), are taking out their
frustrations on their especially needy children.
The world has turned upside-down for these kids," says Carnes. "And
they don't have the cognitive development to understand it all. So in
some cases their behavior is more problematic-they may be more
oppositional, and at the same time they may require more cuddling, more
nurturing, and more attention. This of course is occurring at the same
time that parents are worried about how they're going to rebuild their
homes, find jobs-generally when they're already stressed to the Emit'
"
In response to the abuse, which many regard as the most serious
immediate effect of the storm, Carnes administers short-term goals to
parents: getting the kids back in school, finding a suitable place to
live, even simple matters such as where to go to get their mail. By
achieving these goals, parents can feel they are reestablishing a sense
of control over their lives, which in turn reduces their level of
frustration.
"There are two methods of treating the violence," says Carnes.
"Prevention warning parents that such problems may arise under the
circumstances and validating the anger they feel in response to
hardships; and intervention, preferably as soon as possible."
By way of intervention, Gibbs will remind parents that they never
reacted quite so violently to their children before the storm, as a way
of getting them to recognize where their true frustration comes from. He
also recommends being straight with families, letting them know the
degree of difficulty they will face in attempting to rebuild their lives,
without the benefit of rose-colored glasses.
"I can't tell people that things are going to get better when I
know that may not be true," says Gibbs. "I let them tell their stories, I
stress what's being done to help, but I don't promise that some fairy
godmother will come in, wave a magic wand, and make everything okay. They
need to know what the situation is if they're going to deal with it
effectively and vent their anger in healthier ways."
Anger, it seems, is a motivating factor in response to many of the
problems associated with the aftermath of disaster. There is no order in
people's lives-other than the structured existence the military has
established for them-and there probably won't be for another year. That
will include special days, birthdays, anniversaries, the upcoming holiday
season spent in a tent crowded with strangers. Certainly not the best of
conditions for a family struggling to stay together.
As a hurricane has no face, no identity, that anger is finding no
target, and is often turned inward. Feeding on itself, it win likely lead
to ongoing problems such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD)-an anxiety disorder that follows a traumatic event normally out of
the realm of one's experience. Common symptoms include disturbed sleep,
phobic reactions, intense guilt, and vulnerability to visual or mental
triggers that remind one of the event-some only vaguely reminiscent of
the original trauma.
Carnes and other psychologists estimate that about 80 percent of
victims win experience some symptoms of PTSD for about a year; others,
approximately five to 10 percent, will suffer a more serious,
long-lasting disorder. Some of these will reflect pre-existing
conditions, as even before the storm hit, many of the victims were living
on the edge of poverty. The hurricane exacerbated the stress of their
already highly marginal lives.
Children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to PTSD,
according to Sergio Aisenberg, a psychologist at Barry University in
Miami Shores, Florida. They tend to feel more helpless and are less
adaptable to newer, stressful situations.
"It is important to keep a support group going for kids," reports
Aisenberg, who feels that some cases of PTSD can be prevented if children
are given the opportunity to talk about their experiences. They need a
counselor who will help them understand that, among other things, not
every cloud in the sky is a sign that Andrew is coming back.
"The children need to be reminded, over and over again, that even
during the storm they had someone who was there to care for them and make
sure they were safe. They need to be reassured that that person-parent,
grandparent, or guardian-is still present in their lives to watch over
them and keep them safe."
Aisenberg and others recommend to parents that family structures be
maintained, but perhaps relaxed a bit. Children may need to sleep in
their parents' bed for awhile; they may need to stay up and talk later
into the night, or have their needs tended to more quickly than under
ordinary circumstances. They need to regain the sense of security that
the storm shattered.
Sometimes the loss experienced by a child may be so profound, yet
center on a tiny object lost in the storm or an image or memory seemingly
gone forever. Aisenberg relates the story of one family whose children
were distraught that they had lost a small toy their recently deceased
grandfather had made for them and which served as a memento.
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