Hey Dr. Ballas,
I read your post a few days ago and continue to think about it. Somewhere I read or heard that when there is a traumatic incident, the first two weeks are critical and that it's important to listen to the person talk about it as much as possible during that period.
My understanding is that doing so can greatly lessen the long term effects of the trauma. I wonder if you could comment on the do's and don't's of supporting someone immediately following a traumatic incident, particularly in light of the reality that professional help, more often than not is not immediately available, though, thankfully, that is slowly changing. In our community a "support officer" trained in providing support and reducing the effects of trauma is called in following incidents involving the police.
My husband was involved in a canoe trip involving primarily boys and fathers, but two mothers participated too. There was an incident in which an adult and youth lost control of their canoe and wrapped it around a tree stump, expelling them both into the water. Before I go any further, I want you to know that both were rescued and are fine. This story has a happy ending.
The adult was assisted to shore by an adult and youth in another canoe; all that was known about the youth was that he was last seen standing on something in the middle of a fast moving area of water.
The canoe group set up camp around the bend and attended to the adult immediately by treating for possible hypothermia, and prepared a rescue canoe in case the youth was spotted moving downstream in the water. Another adult and youth launched their canoe and paddled to the ranger station to get help an hour and a half away. There was much discussion of other possible efforts, but it was decided to make camp and wait for additional help.
It took, I believe, six hours to return to the last known location of the youth with the assistance of the Ranger and a powerboat.
Fortunately for the youth, another canoe group spotted the youth, and launched a rescue.
The first canoe of two adults saw the youth and beached on a small sandbar. They then signaled to the second canoe and the adults in the second canoe made a hard landing into a group of fallen trees further down, then made their way back over flooded land. They then emptied their gear from the canoe and three adults got in and and paddled into the water just far enough from the shore to get out from under the overhand of the trees. They then successfully threw the youth a rope.
In response, the youth attempted to retrieve his pack from the damaged canoe - (a potentially dangerous situation) - and the canoeists, who were from Switzerland, immediately used their limited English to convince the youth to leave the pack and jump in the water.
The youth jumped into the fast moving water and with the assistance of the rope the canoeists were able to pull him to the small sandbar to await rescue. He was cold but fine. The only injury he sustained was burning his tongue on the hot chocolate the group had prepared for him.
The group of boys and parents were on and off the water for an additional three days. During this period, the youth canoed and camped with my husband and our son - (the youth's parents were unable to participate in this trip). Off and on they talked about what had happened.
The mother reported later that the youth came through the incident well.
The adult involved in the incident on the other hand, did not talk about what had happened. My husband contacted her a few times, and each time she reassured him that she was fine, but again would not talk about it. We learned later that she did not tell her husband about the incident.
Years later, my husband spoke with her again and learned that the incident had been hard for her and that it had taken a year or so for her to work it though. She must have, because my husband recalls that she went on another canoe outing some time later.
Now returning to the story, my husband, upon returning home from this trip, told me what had happened. And for the next two days we talked about the incident from his perspective.
The content of those conversations were always that accidents happen; you do what you can in response based on your knowledge, experience, personal capabilities, and resources; mistakes will be made and are to be expected; and feelings including expressions of gratefulness are appropriate and are to be encouraged.
In this particular case, we were grateful for how well everyone worked together to facilitate the rescue and that everyone came though it okay.
Something else that I wish you would speak to in addition to the do's and don't's of providing support after a traumatic incident is how underlying brain disorders can increase and/or complicate the effects of trauma. It's my understanding that people who have AD/HD are at greater risk for developing PTSD. Is this true?
It's also my understanding that talking about a traumatic incident later on can be helpful or harmful. I'd love it if you'd speak to that too.
Grandma Lise, who is supposed to be making valentines today
Hey Dr. Ballas,
I read your post a few days ago and continue to think about it. Somewhere I read or heard that when there is a traumatic incident, the first two weeks are critical and that it's important to listen to the person talk about it as much as possible during that period.
My understanding is that doing so can greatly lessen the long term effects of the trauma. I wonder if you could comment on the do's and don't's of supporting someone immediately following a traumatic incident, particularly in light of the reality that professional help, more often than not is not immediately available, though, thankfully, that is slowly changing. In our community a "support officer" trained in providing support and reducing the effects of trauma is called in following incidents involving the police.
My husband was involved in a canoe trip involving primarily boys and fathers, but two mothers participated too. There was an incident in which an adult and youth lost control of their canoe and wrapped it around a tree stump, expelling them both into the water. Before I go any further, I want you to know that both were rescued and are fine. This story has a happy ending.
The adult was assisted to shore by an adult and youth in another canoe; all that was known about the youth was that he was last seen standing on something in the middle of a fast moving area of water.
The canoe group set up camp around the bend and attended to the adult immediately by treating for possible hypothermia, and prepared a rescue canoe in case the youth was spotted moving downstream in the water. Another adult and youth launched their canoe and paddled to the ranger station to get help an hour and a half away. There was much discussion of other possible efforts, but it was decided to make camp and wait for additional help.
It took, I believe, six hours to return to the last known location of the youth with the assistance of the Ranger and a powerboat.
Fortunately for the youth, another canoe group spotted the youth, and launched a rescue.
The first canoe of two adults saw the youth and beached on a small sandbar. They then signaled to the second canoe and the adults in the second canoe made a hard landing into a group of fallen trees further down, then made their way back over flooded land. They then emptied their gear from the canoe and three adults got in and and paddled into the water just far enough from the shore to get out from under the overhand of the trees. They then successfully threw the youth a rope.
In response, the youth attempted to retrieve his pack from the damaged canoe - (a potentially dangerous situation) - and the canoeists, who were from Switzerland, immediately used their limited English to convince the youth to leave the pack and jump in the water.
The youth jumped into the fast moving water and with the assistance of the rope the canoeists were able to pull him to the small sandbar to await rescue. He was cold but fine. The only injury he sustained was burning his tongue on the hot chocolate the group had prepared for him.
The group of boys and parents were on and off the water for an additional three days. During this period, the youth canoed and camped with my husband and our son - (the youth's parents were unable to participate in this trip). Off and on they talked about what had happened.
The mother reported later that the youth came through the incident well.
The adult involved in the incident on the other hand, did not talk about what had happened. My husband contacted her a few times, and each time she reassured him that she was fine, but again would not talk about it. We learned later that she did not tell her husband about the incident.
Years later, my husband spoke with her again and learned that the incident had been hard for her and that it had taken a year or so for her to work it though. She must have, because my husband recalls that she went on another canoe outing some time later.
Now returning to the story, my husband, upon returning home from this trip, told me what had happened. And for the next two days we talked about the incident from his perspective.
The content of those conversations were always that accidents happen; you do what you can in response based on your knowledge, experience, personal capabilities, and resources; mistakes will be made and are to be expected; and feelings including expressions of gratefulness are appropriate and are to be encouraged.
In this particular case, we were grateful for how well everyone worked together to facilitate the rescue and that everyone came though it okay.
Something else that I wish you would speak to in addition to the do's and don't's of providing support after a traumatic incident is how underlying brain disorders can increase and/or complicate the effects of trauma. It's my understanding that people who have AD/HD are at greater risk for developing PTSD. Is this true?
It's also my understanding that talking about a traumatic incident later on can be helpful or harmful. I'd love it if you'd speak to that too.
Grandma Lise, who is supposed to be making valentines today