Disasters grief felt on hills, streets and beyond
Today our nation has experienced a nail biting experience as our stock market hits an all time low of 778 point drop. Disaster grief is not only for those times when there is a hurricane danger or a wildfire that roars out of control in some canyon. It is also the terror barrier that affects homes, Wall Street and Capitol Hill when the Dow drops the most in any one day in history. There are all kinds of grief victims in a disaster even a financial disaster.
For those who have lost a great deal of money today there will be a need for a great deal for grief support as people climb out of the situation that we find ourselves in. Today the streets are not littered with broken branches, uprooted trees and smashed windows filled with flooding and mud. Instead the financial earthquake to our nation and financial institutions has resulted in litter of dashed hopes for a quick rescue. Broken dreams and uprooted lives will be what is most felt in the days and weeks ahead. Smashed confidence in leadership in our financial markets and in government is the order for the day. Lives will be filled with floods of uncertainty and mistrust.
Today the country and many parts of the world are seeing the liter of hopes, dreams and hard work. Today many lost more than dollars and bank accounts. Today for many with the failed bailout on Capitol hill they have lost hope in the financial markets.
There is no quick way to get over disaster grief no matter what kind it is. There is no quick or sure-fire ways that can help a person though the tears and sorrow related to financial disaster grief. The grief and pain is so great that it can not be alleviated with a few dollars or a generic sayings.
Tonight there will be many a pain-filled heart and home. Many will be filled with fear and disaster anxiety.
Tonight many financial disaster victims will need to just sit and be with the issues of their pain and loss. There is nothing that can be done but to be visited by the sorrow and disillusionment.
Sitting with the grief and loss of a financial devastation is the first steps needed in the process of disaster recovery. Yes there will be disaster recovery. It will not be fast and it will not be painless – it never is. But it can be done.
In the days and weeks ahead the pain of loss will feel insurmountable and paralyzing. The initial blow is so stinging that it can feel like it has taken the breath of hope - life filled living away.
The landscape of financial grief will have its highs and its lows. It can not be done alone. Individually and collectively we will need to share in grief support.
In time there will be useful insights, opportunities and brighter days. Not today, most likely not tomorrow but it will happen. It will take time, work and trust in your own abilities and in that of our country. We will make it through this difficult and challenging time. We have the ability to become stronger at the most broken places of our lives and our financial circumstances if we are willing to work at it.
In the entries to this blog to come I will be addressing the various tasks that financial disaster victims will experience and have to work through. I hope you will share your thoughts and stories. We can do this together.
Dr. Terrie Modesto, Disaster Grief Specialist
Website: www.trainforahurricane.com Blog: www.hurricane-prepared-ness.blogspot.com
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