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