A Message for 9/11 Workers
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First, let me thank you for your courage and dedication to the people of your respective communities. Some will say that you were only doing your job, but what happens in a time of crisis for emergency service workers goes above what is normal. Abnormal circumstances, such as those that occurred on 9/11/01 are breeding grounds for emotional and stress related problems. You may have started to develop feelings that you are unfamiliar with and things may be happening in your life that you do not understand. You may be dealing with post traumatic stress. Post traumatic stress is a normal reaction to an abnormal circumstance or exposure. There is nothing to be ashamed of and your feelings are normal. The mistake that you cannot make is to assume that these feelings and actions will go away on their own because they usually will not. You may be experiencing thoughts of what you have been through and it seems that you cannot get these thoughts out of your mind. These thoughts may include strong emotions that make you feel sad or even bring tears. That's okay. My biggest mistake in law enforcement was not realizing that I was human and could react in a human way to emotions. You may be experiencing nightmares, feeling guilty or angry. Believe me, that is a normal reaction to what you have been exposed to. Feelings of depression or insomnia coupled with relationship problems are frequently encountered when someone has been involved in a crisis such as this. If you are experiencing any of these problems, please contact a critical incident stress management team, chaplain or counselor. You can feel much better by allowing yourself to talk about your feelings. Please understand that seeking someone to talk to does not mean you are weak, but only shows that you have compassion for your fellow man and care enough to be bothered by the tragedy that affected so many lives on September 11, 2001. Post traumatic stress, if treated or dealt with in it's early stages can often be resolved, but to let these symptoms continue untreated can lead to serious problems in the future. Once again, thank you for your contribution to the American people and your dedication to your chosen profession. I am very proud of you and hope that you will stay healthy and strong. God bless you and God bless the USA.