Appendix

Managing Stress after a Disaster A Guide for Employees

This is an example of the material that First Interstate provided employees after the building fire described in the Prologue. Mory Framer, the trauma expert, developed it and has given his permission to include it here. This guide should be customized to your organization’s situation, including its ability to provide for outside help.

We hope you will never have to refer to this handout. But if you are ever a victim of a disaster, you can expect to experience aftereffects to varying degrees, and they can last anywhere from six weeks to three months or more.

We also want to alert you that there can be a ripple effect through your family and other loved ones. This handout is designed to help you through the healing process. The acknowledgement of emotional reactions helps shorten recovery time and prevent complications. Reactions can vary widely from one day to the next. Don’t be alarmed by the reemergence of emotions after days or weeks.

Some Reactions You May Experience

• A sense that your life is out of balance
• Disbelief
• Repeated flashbacks
• Excessive sadness
• Repeated nightmares and other sleep disturbances
• Withdrawal from usually pleasurable activities
• Diminished sexual drive
• Frequent anger and irritability
• Forgetfulness and impaired concentration
• A sense of guilt at surviving

Self-Help Techniques

Don’t push thoughts and memories of the event away; talk about them. Don’t feel embarrassed about a repetitious need to talk to people.

Keep your life in balance by:

• Maintaining a healthful diet and getting adequate sleep and exercise
• Balancing your work with recreation and rest
• Avoiding new major projects in life
• Keeping a routine with family, close friends, and familiar surroundings

Seeking Help

Do not hesitate to contact behavioral health consultants or the Employee Assistance Program when any of the following occur:

• You or your family have questions regarding what you are feeling.
• You notice any significant changes in family patterns.
• You are suddenly experiencing new physical aches or pains or the aggravation of a physical illnesses. (You might be expressing emotional discomfort through your body.)
• Your normal sleep is significantly disrupted.
• You are bothered by persistent sadness, irritability, or nervousness.
• Your use of alcohol or sleep aids increases.
• A gradual reduction in symptoms does not occur.