When a Community Grieves

For days after the events of September 11, 2001 millions of Americans viewed the scene of two airliners hitting the World Trade Center Twin Towers. The attack was replayed on television, in newspapers and in all of our minds. In one day, this tragedy changed everything about the way we live in America.

For weeks since the terrorist attacks that destroyed thousands of lives, and part of the Manhattan skyline we all believed was permanent, many of us experienced an almost overwhelming uncertainty, sadness, and sense of grief. We mourned not only the people who were lost but also our country's security and our own personal sense of safety.

When an entire community experiences a tragedy of this scope, grief can become a personal experience of loss. Continued radio and TV coverage brought a sense of immediacy to our awareness and involvement in this disaster. The people who died and their stories became known to us through our TV screens, radio, newspaper and magazine articles.

As human beings, we can react profoundly to the pain of others - and we are surprised at the depth of our own feelings. The overwhelming sadness that we experience can create a trigger which reverberates in each of us, prodding memories and bringing back losses we have had in our own lives. Events from our past come full circle and evoke further feelings of pain and sadness at a very personal level. Our own sense of loss and sadness has been reawakened and intensified. We may find that we are struggling to cope with our own personal losses as well as the tragic events of September 11th and their aftermath.

We may worry that our expressions of grief might be seen as abnormal and inappropriate. However, during this time following such a national tragedy, the outpouring of public grief can reassure us that expressing our deepest feelings is appropriate. It may also assist us to express and cope with our own personal grief.

As we continue to struggle with our sadness and lingering fear and anxiety, there are things that we can do to help in coping with our reactions to the World Trade Center disaster. It is important, first, to respect the impact the tragedy may be having, and realize that we may not be able to immediately resume our normal activities at one hundred percent. It is important, also, to recognize this as a time of reconnecting with family and friends, a time for remembering, and a time for redefining the meaning of our lives and our contributions to others’ lives. Healing and wholeness are possible – and they are within reach.

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