FMSC 431 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Natural Disaster, Group Psychotherapy, Victimisation
27 Feb 2018
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Exposure to (experiencing directly or witnessing) events that (a) involved actual or threat of death or serious injury to self or others, and (b) response is intense fear, helplessness, or horror. Increased arousal: insomnia, irritability, anger outbursts, difficulty concentrating, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response. Terrorist attacks (many aspects in common with responses to natural disasters) Initial shock (cid:1688)shattered assumptions(cid:1689) regarding safety and that (cid:1688)this couldn"t happen to me and my family(cid:1689) leading to perception that they can"t cope/survive; use educational and empowering statements to modify such views. Disaster mental health crisis intervention: stabilize, support, normalize people to strengthen their coping abilities. Encourage talking, seeking support; provide information about sources of assistance. Education about ptsd (as an anxiety disorder) how it develops, symptoms, treatment. Exposure to trauma through imagery, in safe environment, to examine own feelings and thoughts about it. Cbt techniques for relaxation, anger management, preparing for future stress reactions, effective communication with others, etc.
