Any occurrence that constitutes a significant break in routine coupled with a potential threat to life and limb can evoke traumatic reactions. We have previously communicated regarding the immediate stress and potential trauma of the hurricane itself. The following are suggestions of coping with the lingering impact and effects of this calamitous event.

• THE LIKELIHOOD OF A TRAUMATIC OR DESTABILIZING REACTION ON YOUR PART AND THAT OF YOUR CHILDREN WILL PARTIALLY DEPEND ON THE EXTENT TO WHICH THERE HAD BEEN EXPOSURE TO INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.

• PAST HISTORY OF TRAUMA, ESPECIALLY RECENT, CAN EXACERBATE THE EXISTENCE OF A STRESS REACTION EVEN IF THE PRIOR EVENT WAS UNRELATED AND DIFFERENT IN NATURE. FOR EXAMPLE, A CHILD WHO RECENTLY EXPERIENCED AN INJURY OR WITNESSED AN VEHICULAR ACCIDENT MAY COMBINE THESE TWO EVENTS AND EXACERBATE THE TRAUMA.

• EVERYONE INHERENTLY DIFFERS IN THE EXTENT TO WHICH THEY RESPOND TO FRIGHTENING EVENTS AND THOSE WITH A PROCLIVITY TOWARDS ANXIETY AND FRIGHTFUL ANTICIPATION WILL PROBABLY RESPOND MORE PROFOUNDLY TO THESE RECENT DISRUPTIONS AND UPHEAVAL THAN SOMEONE ELSE WHO IS BY NATURE MORE CAVALIER OR DISTRACTED.

• IT IS NOT UNCOMMON TO HAVE A DORMANT PERIOD BETWEEN THE EVENT AND TRAUMATIC REACTION. THIS IS PARTICULARLY THE CASE WHEN INDIVIDUALS ARE PREOCCUPIED WITH THE CALAMITY AND ITS AFTERMATH AND ONLY BECOME COGNIZANT OF ITS ENORMITY WHEN LIFE RETURNS TO NORMAL AND CALM IS RESTORED. PLEASE DO NOT BE SURPRISED IF YOU AND/OR YOUR CHILD EXPERIENCE TRAUMATIC RESPONSES WEEKS LATER EVEN LONG AFTER YOUR DAILY ROUTINE AND ABODE ARE SETTLED.

• IT IS ESSENTIAL ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN AROUND SIX YEARS AND OLDER THAT ALL CHANGES IN THEIR SURROUNDINGS AND LIFESTYLE ARE ADEQUATELY EXPLAINED AND ANTICIPATED WHEN POSSIBLE. THE RARITY OF SUCH EVENTS SHOULD BE EMPHASIZED AS WELL.

• CHILDREN UNDER SIX WILL PROBABLY BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO DIFFUSE DEMONSTRATIONS OF SAFETY AND SECURITY SUCH AS HOLDING, SOOTHING REMARKS AND CONCRETE EXPRESSIONS OF AFFECTION.

• ONCE CALMED AND EVENTS ACCOUNTED FOR, PLEASE KEEP YOUR CHILDREN BUSY WITH RECREATION, EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND IF POSSIBLE SOCIALIZATION.

• IF YOUR POWER IS STILL OUT, CONTINUE TO ASSURE YOUR CHILDREN OF THEIR SAFETY AND ITS ULTIMATE RESUMPTION. BE SURE THAT FORMS OF RECREATION, LEARNING AND OTHER CONSUMING ACTIVITIES ARE SUCH THAT CAN BE CONDUCTED WITHOUT ELECTRICITY.

• IF CULTURALLY APPLICABLE, IT IS MOST DEFINITELY HELPFUL TO ACCOUNT FOR THESE EVENTS AND THEIR AFTERMATH IN A RELIGIOUS OR SPIRITUAL CONTEXT. PRAYER, TORAH STUDY AND GOOD DEEDS CAN BE AMONG THE ACTIVITIES THAT BOTH EMPOWER AND DISTRACT CHILDREN DURING THESE TIMES. IF HIGHLIGHTING G-D’S STRENGTH AND DOMINATION, BE CAREFUL TO SCULPT YOUR COMMENTS IN SUCH A WAY THAT HE IS NOT SEEN BY THE CHILD IN A DESTRUCTIVE OR CRUEL CONTEXT.

• COMMON REACTIONS TO TRAUMA THAT CAN BE OBSERVED IMMEDIATELY OR AT A LATER JUNCTURE INCLUDE FLASHBACKS, STARTLE REACTIONS, AVOIDANCE OF REMINDERS, IRRITABILITY, SOMATIC COMPLAINTS, SLEEP DISTURBANCE, HOPELESSNESS, DESPAIR AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR AND MOOD.

• IF YOU SEE SUCH CHANGES IN YOUR CHILD, DO INDEED INQUIRE IF THE FRIGHTENING IMAGES AND OCCURRENCES DURING HURRICANE SANDY IS ON HIS OR HERMIND. IF YOU SEE NO SUCH RESPONSES, THERE IS NO NEED NOR IS IT RECOMMENDED TO BRING IT UP OR FISH FOR SUCH CONCERNS.

• KEEP IN MIND THAT CHILDREN, PARTICULARLY YOUNGER, ARE PRONE TO BRING UP WORRIES AND CONCERNS AT THE MOST UNEXPECTED OR EVEN INOPPORTUNE TIMES. IF SUCH CONCERNS ARE SUGGESTIVE OF TRAUMA OR FRIGHTENING MISCONCEPTIONS TRY TO IMMEDIATELY RESPOND EVEN IF THE CONTEXT IS INCONVENIENT AND UNCONDUCIVE.

• SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN (PARTICULARLY BOYS) MAY BE UNDULY INTERESTED IN THE DETAILS AND SCARY ACCOUNTS REVOLVING AROUND THIS CATASTROPHE  THIS IS NOT ATYPICAL FOR THIS AGE AND FACTS SHOULD BE SUCCINCTLY AND CLEARLY CONVEYED. THE RARE AND HAIR-RAISING STORIES SHOULD BE PLACED IN THE CONTEXT OF BOTH SORROW AND THEIR PRONOUNCED UNLIKELIHOOD TO RECUR. UNFOUNDED AND EXAGGERATED RUMORS OR DESCRIPTIONS SHOULD BE CATEGORICALLY AND BRIEFLY CORRECTED.

• IF A CHILD IS PREOCCUPIED WITH SOME ASPECT OF THE PHYSICAL DESTRUCTION OF THEIR HOME OR NEIGHBORHOOD, IT MAY BE HELPFUL TO CONCRETELY SHOW THEM THE REPARATIVE ACTIVITIES AND ULTIMATE RESTORATION OF THE INTEGRITY OF THEIR HOME AND SURROUNDINGS.

• THE PROLONGED ABSENCE OF ELECTRICAL POWER AND DARKNESS OF THE HOME CAN ALSO HAVE INSIDIOUSLY SLOW EFFECT OF INCREASED IRRITATION, IMPATIENCE AND PETULANCE. IF THIS IS DETECTED, IT MAY BE BEST TO TRY TO GET OUT OF THE HOME, VISIT OTHERS WITH NORMAL LIGHT AND APPLIANCES OR SOME WAY CREATE A BREAK OR EXCURSION FROM THE PERSISTENT DARKNESS AND INCONVENIENCES.

• THERE ARE MANY EFFECTIVE TECHNIQUES TODAY TO ADDRESS POST TRAUMATIC REACTIONS. IF ANYONE IS DISPLAYING ONGOING DISRUPTIVE SYMPTOMS IN THE AFTERMATH OF THIS TRAUMA, THEY CAN BE ASSISTED PROFESSIONALLY AND SHOULD SEEK OUT AN APPROPRIATE REFERRAL.

• CHAI LIFELINE AND MANY OF THE OTHER REPUTABLE AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE READILY AVAILABLE TO ASSIST AND ADVICE THOSE WHO HAVE ANY SUCH CONCERNS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO AVAIL YOURSELF OF THIS HELP.

Dr. Norman N Blumenthal, Director Bereavement and Crisis Intervention Service [email protected] Emergency: 646 763-0627

Rabbi Yaakov Dovid Klar, MSW Director of Community Outreach [email protected] Emergency: 917-710-7857

Zahava Farbman, LMSW, Asssociate Director, Bereavement and Crisis Intervention Services [email protected] Emergency: 516 993-0430

Chai Lifeline, Project Chai 212 465-1300, 212 699 – 6646

(YWN Desk – NYC)