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In this past week, as I worked with my clients I have been noticing significant differences in how a person with PTSD is reacting to the 9-11 disaster, as opposed to a person without a history of trauma and abuse.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating disorder that follows a 
terrifying event.  PTSD can result from any kind of traumatic incident, including kidnapping, serious accidents, natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes, violent attacks such as a mugging, rape or torture, war or being held captive. In general, the symptoms seem to be worse if the event that triggered them was initiated by a person, eg: a rape, as opposed to a flood. The event that triggers PTSD is usually life-threatening.

The average person is concerned, sad, worried, helpless, fearful and angry... all expected and normal reactions. Everyone is experiencing these feeling to varying degrees.  

However, those who have had severely abusive experiences in their lives are reacting to it with more intensity.  Some factors that are affecting their reactions is the experience of not having anyone who protected them from the abuse.  A sense of being unsafe, of being helpless and vulnerable. Some are experiencing a relapse and regressing to earlier stages of vulnerability. They are clinging to those who are their support system and make them feel safe and they trust enough that they will protect them.  Some paranoia is apparent in how they perceive this disaster. This paranoia, although directed at Muslims is different from prejudice... when I asked a client if she had the same feelings toward me (Pakistani Muslim), very innocently and with a child-like trust in me she said 'No, you are different, you will not hurt me'.  For them it is about trust and safety.

Most PTSD survivors feel like curling up and hiding in a cave until 'all this' goes away... this is the same coping mechanism they used when suffering the abuse. Their bodies are frozen and their minds are silently screaming... 'go away, leave me alone'... the same scared child still lives on deep inside.

Nightmare, flashbacks, anxiety attacks, depression, insomnia... are all showing up.  They are feeling intimidated and helpless, unable to stop or control any of the abuse that is going on.  

The intensity of reactions depends on the level of healing they have achieved in their lives. Those who have addressed their issues of trust, safety, vulnerability, helplessness; and are on the path to recovery, in touch with their own strength, are handling this disaster the same as any other American.  On the surface, none of these feelings are uniquely different; the difference is that PTSD survivors are re-living their history of abuse through this disaster.

Muslim Americans and other Americans who are from countries in which they have lived and experienced wars are experiencing similar reactions... as that is PTSD also.  For them it is brings back all the ravages of war that they had seen.  The rubble of the World Trade Center does not look any different from the rubble in Palestine, Bosnia, Chechnya, Eastern Europe, Ireland, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Libya, Somalia or any other war-torn country. The explosion sounded the same, the building collapsing looked the same; the fire, smoke, and dust had the same stench.

To recover and heal, the survivors need to express their concerns and feelings with those they can trust and feel safe with.  They need to separate past from present.  And finally, to keep doing a 'reality check' that focuses on themselves as an adult who is not as helpless or dependant as a child is.

Uzma Mazhar © 2001