Washington, D.C. -- The 10th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, including the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon, is quickly approaching. Nearly 3,000 individuals died as a result. Remembrances of that tragic day will be largely unavoidable. There are two common reactions people often experience during the anniversary of such a significant event – avoidance and re-experiencing, says Georgetown University Medical Center psychologist Priscilla Dass-Brailsford, Ph.D. Dass-Brailsford is an expert in disaster-related trauma and a first responder in New York City after the 9/11 attacks.
“For some people, the anniversary of 9/11 will make them feel like they’re going through the trauma all over again,” explains Dass-Brailsford. “That kind of reaction is called ‘re-experiencing.’ People may have feelings, bodily responses, and thoughts that occurred at the time of the event. They will look at the clock and think back on what they were doing 10 years ago this time; it will be a hard day.”
Avoidance is another type of reaction people experience during the anniversary of a harrowing event.
“Some people try to avoid events, places, or people that are reminders of the traumatic event,” she says. “They try to avoid anything related to the trauma. They simply wish the day will go away.”
Dass-Brailsford says individuals who choose avoidance as a reaction concern her the most as we near the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. For these people, she suggests, “Plan to do something symbolic that feels emotionally comfortable,” and do not focus on the expected media coverage of that fateful day.
For those who lost loved ones, she says this anniversary will be different since the perpetrator behind the attacks, Osama Bin Laden, has been killed. “For some survivors of the disaster, Bin Laden’s death is a relief but probably not enough; they would prefer to have their loved ones back.”
Dass-Brailsford says it’s crucial for survivors to acknowledge the anniversary day. “Just being aware that the day will bring back intense feelings of pain, loss and sadness is important. Some type of personal or family memorialization can be helpful, whether it’s going out for a meal together to celebrate a loved one’s life, spending time with friends, or attending a church service or other memorial service in their city.”
Dass-Brailsford, editor of Crisis and Disaster Counseling: Lessons Learned From Hurricane Katrina and Other Disasters (2009), was a first-responder in the aftermath of both the World Trade Center attacks and Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. She is also an active member of the Divisions of Trauma Psychology, Counseling Psychology and Ethnic Minority Psychology at the American Psychological Association.
Dass-Brailsford is available for media interviews by contacting Karen Mallet at km463@georgetown.edu.
About Georgetown University Medical Center
Georgetown University Medical Center is an internationally recognized academic medical center with a three-part mission of research, teaching and patient care (through MedStar Health). GUMC’s mission is carried out with a strong emphasis on public service and a dedication to the Catholic, Jesuit principle of cura personalis -- or "care of the whole person." The Medical Center includes the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing & Health Studies, both nationally ranked; Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute; and the Biomedical Graduate Research Organization (BGRO), which accounts for the majority of externally funded research at GUMC including a Clinical Translation and Science Award from the National Institutes of Health. In fiscal year 2009-2010, GUMC accounted for nearly 80 percent of Georgetown University's extramural research funding.
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