April 14, 2000
Sally Harvey: Challenges and Changes
By Sally Harvey
In the past month the university community has experienced a series of unfathomable tragedies by losing a student, faculty and staff to untimely deaths. The campus has responded unstintingly in its efforts to make available whatever help and comfort possible to survivors, family, friends and colleagues.
I'd like to focus on the aftermath, the time after funerals and memorial services have been held and the media has moved on to other issues. I think we need to remember the reactions to such tragedies last a long, long time.
It is important for us to be prepared for reactions weeks, and even months, from now. A struggle goes on in each individual to find a balance between returning some sense of normalcy to their lives and to allow the time needed for grief and healing. It is important that we recognize this time line and be prepared to offer our support over the long term.
It is especially important to remain aware of this in the workplace where the unremitting pressures of ongoing activities may force us back into a normalized routine before people are ready. When we fail to recognize this long-term effect, we are in danger of causing what we call "secondary injury," which literally means adding pain to pain. Not allowing enough time for affected individuals to work it out in their own way and in their own time can cause physical and emotional harm.
The reactions and timeline may also vary by individual. There are a number of "normal" reactions that can be expected in people who experience trauma. Be prepared for feeling yourself, or observing in others, anxiety, irritability, lack of attention, guilt and/or anger. Alternately, people may totally immerse themselves in work to the exclusion of all feelings.
There may be temporary disturbances in sleep, appetite and activity patterns. There is no way to adequately stress the importance of the support of family, friends and colleagues when there has been a loss or tragedy or trauma. There is no way also to adequately stress the fact that people all over campus and, indeed, across the country have been affected by these deaths and by the horror of the events. Those people who were close to those directly affected may also experience these reactions.
If you are trying to work with someone who has been through a trauma and is experiencing these reactions, here are a few things to do. First, be sure to give them time. See if they need time off from work, some sort of break in their day or a flex plan as they adapt back to work. Second, be supportive: listen. Although people react differently to trauma, many work it through by talking it through. Third, seek assistance yourself by letting an experienced counselor coach you in the specific situation.
Call us here at the Academic and Staff Assistance Program at 752-2727. We are here to offer support, resources and coaching as needed.
Sally Harvey, director of the Academic and Staff Assistance Program, writes a column that appears regularly in Dateline.
Dateline UC Davis is the faculty and staff newspaper for the University of California, Davis.