Dealing with Traumatised Persons
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As already mentioned in the previous course section voluntary helpers in the field of integration sometimes have to face specific challenges. Frequently you are confronted with people who have gone through a lot of suffering. Wars and civil wars, violence, loss of family members and friends, dramatic circumstances during the flight and many other conditions cause mental shocks and traumata.
- Re-experiencing of events (intrusive memories, recurring nightmares, flashbacks, strong reactions to certain signals such as touches, sirens, sounds;
- Avoidance behaviour, e.g. avoiding memories, thoughts and emotions or situations that remind of certain experiences; staying in bed or in rooms where affected people feel secure; avoiding contacts with other persons;
- Changes of thinking and feeling, e.g memory lapses, fearful, negative convictions („There is noone I can trust“); permanent negative emotions such as fear, horror, anger, guilt; depression, passivity, inability to feel positive emotions;
- High level of arousal, e.g. high mental and muscular tension, increased vigilance, irritability, concentration problems, sleep disorders.
What can you do?
Dealing with people in psychological crises
When confronted with mental suffering it is essential to hit the right note in order to create an atmosphere of trust and security. You should try to stay calm and to show that you accept and understand the reactions of the affected person. If possible you should try to calm and comfort persons concerned. You can accompany him/her to a safe place (his/her own room, first aid room), talk to the person in a slow and quiet tone („all right“, no problem“) and try to calm down the situation with nonverbal signals (slow motions, in some cases light touches of shoulder or arm). In general, your aim is to convey peace and security.
- Try to give clear and calm instructions („Let’s go outside/to a quiet place“, etc.)
- If somebody appears to be confused and disoriented try to lead the person back to reality. Address the person namely and mention some details of the situation you find yourself in, e.g. date, time, place.
- Support the person in creating a daily routine.
- Give hints to positive opportunities in the surroundings (e.g. sport, creative activities).
- Don’t try to heal the traumata of your protégés yourself. This is a task for professional psychotherapists.
- Try to connect the person affected with contact persons of the organisation. They can provide access to doctors, psychologists, councelling centres and specific help desks for refugees and victims of torture and violence.
- Take care that you have a list of contact addresses for physical and mental crises.
- If you do not work in the framework of an organisation direct people concerned to a doctor1.