By Adam Kramer
Monday marked the sixth month anniversary of the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center. And just like people can recall where they were at the exact moment of the Kennedy assassination, people know what they were doing and where they were at 8:46 a.m. when the first of the two commercial jets struck the Twin Towers.
But there has been no lull in the constant reminders of that morning in the six months after the attack as New York City tries to comprehend and piece together its psyche. Some people have been able to move forward, but for others that horrific day gets replayed over and over in their minds.
“Mental health specialists understand that post-traumatic stress syndrome can occur immediately following a major trauma or can be delayed for more than three to six months,” said Dr. Len Tuzman, director of social work services at Zucker Hillside Hospital, the mental health facility of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System.
“We already know that the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 have caused PTSD in many people who have either witnessed the disaster firsthand, or lost relatives and friends,” he said. “The day was also most difficult for senior citizens and/or soldiers who already lived through atrocities during World War II, Korea or Vietnam.”
All New Yorkers were affected by Sept. 11, he said, but those who witnessed the Twin Towers falling or lost a loved one are most likely to be suffering. He said people who have not dealt with the emotions and grief they experienced after the destruction of the Trade Center could be showing signs of PTSD. Many, he said, will play the event over and over in the form of dreams or flashbacks, which occur at random times.
Since many different things can trigger a reaction, Tuzman said some people try to avoid stimulants that might produce a response. A loud noise, the neighborhood where the attack took place and an airplane flying overhead could elicit a reaction from someone suffering from the disorder.
“It is easy to notice people suffering from PTSD,” Tuzman said. “A person is not his usual self. They are removed, prone to anger and depressed. Many times they are not part of the group they belonged to and become isolated. It is not hard to miss.”
PTSD is relatively common, he said, pointing out that before Sept. 11 one in 10 people suffered from the disorder. He said it can be triggered by an accident, abuse or witnessing a violent crime. Some other symptoms of PTSD are fainting, dizziness, headaches and palpitations.
He said PTSD is treatable with therapy and medication, but if left untreated it can last a lifetime. Tuzman said if the disorder is ignored, people fall into a major depression and self-medication with drugs.
Now that people have dealt with the concrete issues, such as grief and finances, there has been some incremental increase in those seeking help, he said.
All of the media coverage and the constant barrage of the footage of planes hitting the towers can cause sufferers to relive the event, he said. Tuzman said while some of the survivors and victims’ family want the country to never forget what happened, others need a break.
Tuzman recommended that PTSD sufferers read about the events in the print media and do not put on the television. “People need to protect themselves from the onslaught in the media,” he said.
The way to treat the disorder, Tuzman said, is to “tap your emotions” and to help the patient get back to his normal daily life.
For some, Tuzman said, therapy can solve the problem, but for others medication might be necessary. People need to “trust their environment” again and to build a support system to help them manage their emotions and eliminate the feeling that they are alone.
Other expressive forms, such as art, sports or physical exercise, he said are used to treat children suffering from PTSD, who cannot express themselves with words.
“The first year anniversary is going to be worse,” Tuzman said. “But as time goes on, nothing happens and there are no new attacks things will slowly return” to normal.
Anybody interested in counseling can contact Long Island Jewish Hospital or New York City’s Project Liberty at 800-LIFENET.
Reach reporter Adam Kramer by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 157.
