Wednesday, April 7, 2010

West Virginia Mine Disaster: Families, Survivor Guilt and Living Through a Nightmare

The worst mining disaster in two decades claimed the lives of twenty-five workers in West Virginia. Others made it out, four are unaccounted for at this moment. What happens to everyone affected by this catastrophe? "Everyone" includes victims, their families, survivors, co-workers, friends, rescue workers, hospital and healthcare workers, local residents, and the global universe of child and adult television viewers. All living persons persons feel some degree of post-traumatic-stress-disorder in the form of shock, disbelief, anger, fear, heightened awareness of danger, sorrow and guilt. Since degrees are different let's examine the disaster's effect on persons in each category. Victims - In this disaster most either got out safely or were killed. Often the severely injured feel deep bitterness and resentment in the "Why me? category. They feel depression and rage toward the world, the survivors and their circumstances. Often they imagine that they are being punished for some real or imagined sins of the past. Families of victims have similar feelings of the unfairness of the world to them and their loved ones. Coupled with this is a survivor guilt that their family member died, in this case,working to support the family. Survivors - Those who got away especially without injury, have the sense that somehow they did not "deserve" the good fortune. They have the hardest time believing in the randomness of the universe, in that they were spared. Co-workers who were not there feel much the same as survivors. Friends feel they are helpless in consoling the families in their loss. Rescue workers especially in a case such as this, feel enraged and helpless that they could not get to all the victims due to the dangers inside. They are guilty and self-doubting, ofter seeking other work. Hospital and healthcare workers feel similarly when faced by a need to decide who to help first. Both children and adults become especially concerned about their own work hazards or those of their parents, often to the point of re-evaluating their work situation. Next - How to Cope with Disasters