| We may never know how many people hurricane | | | | RETENTION. "I can't even think," one victim told a |
| Katrina killed. But we know this: The victims are | | | | CNN journalist. If you can't think it's hard to frame |
| going through double grief. They grieve for the | | | | sentences and communicate ideas. Background |
| family members and friends who have died | | | | noise makes things harder. Who could concentrate |
| (post-death grief), for missing loved ones, and | | | | in a crowd of 10,000 people?HEALTH CHANGES. |
| countless losses to come, a process called | | | | Many victims were dehydrated when the relif |
| anticipatory grief.What is anticipatory grief? It's a | | | | workers found them, according to news reports. |
| feeling of loss before a death or dreaded event | | | | Some victims, those who swam or waded |
| occurs. Katrina had both parts of this definition | | | | through toxic water, have developed skin |
| and was a dreaded event that killed thousands. | | | | problems. Kids may have stomach aches, |
| As the victims' losses increase their anticipatory | | | | headaches, loss of appetite, nightmares, and sleep |
| grief will also increase. If you had to summarize | | | | problems. Adults and kids are just plain |
| their lives with one word it would be | | | | exhausted.SLEEP PROBLEMS. The victims |
| uncertainty.Everything is up for grabs.John S. | | | | stranded on rooftops had to be constantly alert |
| Rolland, author of "Living Beyond Loss: A Death in | | | | and got no sleep. Victims housed in shelters got |
| the Family," says the emotions associated with | | | | no sleep, little sleep, or interrupted sleep. Sleep |
| anticipatory grief are intense. What's more, these | | | | problems alter their perception, thinking, behavior, |
| emotions can be total opposites, such as hope | | | | and the ability to solve problems.FEELING |
| and despair. Katrina's victims are on emotional | | | | DISCONNECTED AND ALONE. Trauma has |
| overload. No wonder they have most of the | | | | caused hurricane victims and relief workers to |
| symptoms of anticipatory grief. Here are some of | | | | feel disconnected. Some think they've been |
| their symptoms.DENIAL. You hear denial | | | | forgotten. But they're not forgotten. Americans |
| sentences on television and radio every day. "Gulf | | | | and people around the globe are coming to their |
| Coast residents are used to hurricanes." "We | | | | aid. You can help by:* Learning about anticipatory |
| thought we could ride out the storm." "The [flood] | | | | grief. Once you know about it you'll understand its |
| water will go down soon." The problem with denial | | | | power over the hurricane victims.* Contributing to |
| is that it can kill you.EMOTIONAL NUMBNESS. | | | | AmeriCares, the American Red Cross, the |
| Some victims are so traumatized they have a | | | | Salvation Army, and religious groups that are |
| "flat affect" and display little emotion. Their faces | | | | providing relief. |
| are blank and their body language is minimal. It's | | | | Every contribution is welcome.* Donating new |
| as if Katrina wrung everything out of | | | | clothing - not used - to relief organizations. Make |
| them.NERVOUS BEHAVIOR. The hurricane victims | | | | sure the size is listed on all items. Tie socks and |
| are nervous because they've lost control of their | | | | shoes together.* Donating blankets, sheets, pillow |
| lives. Who wouldn't be nervous? Kids are | | | | cases and pillows to relief organizations.* Donating |
| expressing their nervousness with hyper behavior, | | | | personal care items - toothbrushes, toothpaste, |
| crying, or clinging.ANXIETY AND DREAD. Katrina's | | | | soap, shampoo, combs, makeup - to relief |
| victims ask themselves the same question every | | | | organizations.* Asking your kids to give some of |
| day: What will happen next? Kids may fear | | | | their gently used books and games to relief |
| another disaster, according to The National Child | | | | organizations.* Donating art supplies. Young |
| Traumatic Stress Network. Unfortunately, | | | | children have limited vocabularies, so they |
| weather forecasts may reinforce this | | | | communicate through art. Instead of donating |
| fear.CHOKED FEELING IN THE THROAT. Some | | | | coloring books, donate blank paper, crayons and |
| hurricane victims cry easily, others hide their | | | | or water color markers so kids can express their |
| feelings because they must be strong for their | | | | experiences and feelings.* Sharing your expertise. |
| families. So they live with a choked feeling in their | | | | The American Red Cross and the National |
| throats. Besides, if they start crying they might | | | | Institute of Mental Health need health experts in a |
| not be able to stop.CONSTANT SADNESS. Robert | | | | variety of fields. Visit their Websites for more |
| Veniga, MD, author of "A Gift of Hope: How We | | | | information on volunteer needs.* Sharing your |
| Survive Our Tragedies," says the victims of | | | | home. Contact to work out details.* Listening to |
| tragedy often believe things are going to get | | | | victims' stories. If you share your home or if |
| worse. "Their lives are governed by fears," he | | | | hurricane victims move to your community, take |
| writes, "perhaps a fear that they can never again | | | | the time to listen to their stories. Your gift of |
| find happiness."DEPRESSION. Suriving Katrina was | | | | listeing will ease their burdens and help them to |
| hard enough, but now the victims have to face | | | | see a brighter future.Copyright 2005 by Harriet |
| their losses and build new lives. Building a new life | | | | Hodgson. To learn more about her work go to |
| takes courage and physical stamina, two things | | | | Hodgson has been a nonfiction writer for 27 |
| that may be in short supply at the moment. The | | | | years and is a member of the Association of |
| result is depression.ANGER. Kids feel insecurity, | | | | Health Care Journalists. Her latest book, "Smiling |
| anxiety, sadness, unfairness, anger and more, | | | | Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief," written |
| according to the National Child Traumatic Stress | | | | with Mayo Clinic psychiatrist Dr. Lois Krahn, is |
| Network. For information on kids' reactions to | | | | available from Hodgson has donated copies of the |
| disaster visit their Website at and click on | | | | book to her local Red Cross chapter. |
| "Terrorism and Disaster."POOR CONCENTRATION | | | | |