Dealing with Post-Ivan Stress

Helping Your Children through Trauma

According to experts, children who experience an initial traumatic event before they are 11-years-old are three times more likely to develop psychological symptoms than those who experience their first trauma as a teenager or later.

But children are able to better cope with traumatic events if parents, friends, family, teachers and other adults support and help them with their experiences. Help should start as soon as possible after the event.

This is why the Ministry of Education has placed emphasis on sensitizing teachers as our children return to school after the passage of Ivan. Here’s what adults should look for to determine if a child has been affected and some suggestions on helping them through the trauma.

Signs that children may be affected include:

• Becoming upset over the loss of a favourite toy or other things that adults may consider insignificant but which are important to the child.
• Changing from quiet, obedient and caring to loud, noisy and aggressive, or from outgoing to shy.
• Developing nighttime fears. Children may be afraid to sleep alone, without a light, or have nightmares, etc.
• Being afraid that the event will recur.
• Becoming easily upset; crying or whining.
• Reverting to younger behaviours such as bed-wetting and thumb sucking.
• Wanting to keep parents in sight and refusing to go to school or childcare.
• Having symptoms of illness, such as headaches, vomiting or fever.
• Worrying about where they and their family will live.

What can parents, teachers or other caring adults do?

• Talk with children about how they are feeling and listen without judgment. Let them know its okay to have their own feelings, even if they are different from the feelings of others.
• Let children take their time to figure things and feelings out. Don’t rush them or pretend that they don’t think or feel as they do.
• Help them learn to use words that express their feelings, such as happy, sad, angry, mad and scared. Just be sure that the words fit their feelings—not yours.
• Assure fearful children that you will be there to take care of them. Reassure them many times.
• Stay together as a family as much as possible.
• Return as soon as possible to former routines or develop new ones. Maintain a regular schedule for the children.
• Reassure children that the disaster was not in any way their fault.
• Let children have some control, such as choosing what outfit to wear or what meal to have for dinner.

If you have a child who is having troubles coping after Hurricane Ivan contact Dr. Antonia Hawkins, at the Cayman Islands Hospital, on 244-2650/244-2668. Also available is education psychologist at 945-6308.

Helping Your Child after Ivan

Help is at hand for parents who are concerned about the impact Hurricane Ivan may have had on their children’s wellbeing. Visiting Child Psychologist, Dr Jerome Brodlie, will be hosting a meeting for parents of school-age children next Tuesday (16 November) at the Mary Miller Memorial Hall, from 6.00–7.30pm.

During the session, Dr Brodlie will offer information and advice on how children behave in post-traumatic situations, together with guidance on helping them. There will also be an opportunity for parents to ask questions.

An eminent child psychologist, Dr Jerome Brodlie, Professor Emeritis at Yale and Connecticut State University, has also served as a CBS Network correspondent on childhood issues.

During his visit to the island, Dr Brodlie will also meet with all school counsellors, in addition to teachers from private schools and pre-schools.

How Are You Feeling After Ivan?

Dr. Marc Lockhart, consultant psychiatrist at the Cayman Islands Hospital, has prepared some questions for residents to ask themselves about how they are feeling in the days after Hurricane Ivan.

• Feeling sad, blue or hopeless?
• Lost interest in things you used to enjoy?
• Body aches and pains with no known physical cause?
• Experienced or witnessed a traumatic event?
• Having nightmares, flashbacks?
• Feeling emotional numbness?

If you have a positive response to three or more of these questions then you should talk with a professional. Counselors at the Cayman Islands Hospital, Department of Substance Abuse Services, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) are available to help.

For adults, contact Mental Health Outpatient Services on 244-2650, Dr. Clement Von Kirchenheim on 244-2726, Kathryn Dinspel-Powell, on 325-5245/325-5244, or the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), on 949-9559, to make an appointment.

Tips for Coping

Talk about it and encourage others to share their perspectives. Sharing your feelings with friends, teachers, classmates and family will help you work through what happened. Talking with others will relieve stress and help you realize that other people have similar feelings.

Take care of yourself. Get plenty of rest and exercise. Do things that you find relaxing and soothing. Remember to eat nutritious foods. Limit your exposure to media reports and images of the tragedy. Avoid risk-taking activities and, if you drink, drink in moderation. As soon as you feel comfortable, go back to usual routines.

Stay connected to friends and family. Make plans to visit family or other people who can offer reassurance. If you can’t be with them in person, increase your contact through phone calls and e-mails.

Do something positive that will help you gain a greater sense of control (for example, give blood, take a first aid class, or donate food or clothing). Get involved with school or community activities planned in response to the disaster, such as a benefit.

Do things you enjoy. If you have put things aside that you normally enjoy, get involved in those activities now. Go for a walk, plant flowers or play dominos with friends.

Write about significant experiences in your life and how they have affected you. Journaling gives you the opportunity to express your feelings in your own words and at your own pace. It is also an opportunity for you to share pieces of your life with future generations.

Ask for help if you feel overwhelmed by lingering thoughts about the disaster – it’s not a sign of weakness. Talk with a trusted friend, family member or faith leader. Take advantage of the resources in your community, workplace or school.

Recognising Stress in Adults:

It’s important to know when stress is impacting your life and to understand that in the aftermath of Ivan, feeling stressed is a strong possibility.

Adults may be suffering from stress if you experience any combination of several of the following factors:

• Difficulty sleeping
• Nightmares
• Easily frustrated, or irritability
• Loss of appetite
• Headaches, stomach problems, colds or flu-like symptoms
• Mood swings
• Crying easily
• Persistent sadness and feelings of hopelessness
• Chronic fatigue
• Increased use of alcohol and/or other substances as a coping mechanism
• Disorganized thought patterns or an inability to concentrate

Talk to a Pastor

The following pastors are available to the public for help or advice:

• Al Ebanks – 917 5007
• Nicholas Sykes – 916 7373
• Winston Rose – 916 0776
• Torrance Bobb - 916 5639
• Joe Crawford – 916 7513
• Alson Ebanks – 926 1489
• Anthony Gager – 916 8909
• David Jorge – 926 0461
• John Jefferson Sr – 925 4319
• Godfrey Meghoo – 916 7162
• Bob Thompson – 927 9814
• Clovis Wilks – 927 1163
• Gloria Wilks – 917 4061
• Rudolph Willis – 916 3392
• Steve Blair – 925 4783
• Sean Major-Campbell – 949 5583

Contact Social Workers

Help is also available through the district offices of the Department of Family and Children Services:

• George Town (Mirco Centre) – 925 5345/925 5346
• West Bay (Old Sunrise Centre) – 925 5348
• Bodden Town includes East End, North Side and Bodden Town Districts (Bright Days Plaza) – 925 5347

Contact your Nearest DAC

For advice and general information, DAC (District Assistance Centres) offices are located in every district:

• George Town, NDC offices, Compass Building, on Shedden Road
• Bodden Town, MLAs Gilbert McLean and Roy Bodden offices, in Bright Days Plaza
• North Side, the United Church
• East End, District Health Clinic
• West Bay, Town Hall.

Counsellor Training Resumes

The Institute for Theological and Leadership Development (ITLD-Cayman) has resumed evening classes at Cayman Prep and High School, Walkers Road.

Class schedule is as follows: B.A. Guidance and Counseling — Monday: Foundational Psychology, Tuesday: Biblical and Theological Perspectives in Counseling, Wednesday: Fundamentals of Guidance and Counselling.

Classes for Certificate in Community Care and Counselling — Monday: Counselling the Abused, Tuesday: Spiritual Insights for Counseling, Wednesday: Overview of Family, Culture, Values etc., for effective counselling.

Late admission to the above classes is open until 11 November.

Counseling Seminar: A Post Ivan Perspective

Crisis counseling and management, trauma and anger management

ITLD-Cayman will offer an M.A. in Pastoral Psychology and Counseling Module on “Counseling Skills” to members of the public interested in a refresher course to update their counseling skills. This intensive seminar will be taught with a holistic perspective that integrates scientific and spiritual views.

• November 18 Thursday, 5 pm to 10 pm
• November 19 Friday, 5 pm to 10 pm
• November 20 Saturday, 9 am to 9 pm
• November 21 Sunday, 3 pm to 9 pm
• November 22 Monday, 5 pm to 9 pm

The seminar will be held at Elmslie Memorial United Church in the boardroom.

If interested contact Rev. Dr. P J Lawrence at 925 6448.