Remembering 9-11

Fourteen years ago, an event occurred that shook the foundation of this country’s sense of confidence and security in the world.  9-11. Just like those of us who were alive when JFK was assassinated, we remember that day and where we were and what we were doing. The events of those two days are etched in our memory.  Indeed, they are.Traumatic events such as 9-11, the recent attacks in Paris and in California, the assassination of a president are stored in different areas of the brain, from those we utilize in remembering where put our car keys the night before. 

This mechanism of recalling traumatic events in detail is adaptive. It is a survival mechanism. Remembering those things which are a threat to our survival are often important to remember vividly and in detail so that we can avoid or prevent future trauma. Forgetting where we put our car keys can be frustrating, but usually not traumatic.

Unfortunately, in the modern world, many of the traumatic events that occur are ones that we cannot change or necessarily prevent in the future. Feelings associated with these traumas often stay with us. In the extreme, we talk about post-traumatic stress or post-traumatic stress disorders. But I would guess that most of us on 9-11 had some of these old memories come back to us and some of the unpleasant feelings associated with those memories, even after fourteen years.

Resilience requires that we continue to discharge feelings regarding past traumas.  Talking with others about these feelings and connecting with others is one of the ways that we can do this. Generally speaking, it is a good thing to talk about  what happened and to express the feelings that are still there. Taking the opportunity that the anniversary of a traumatic event affords to continue to discharge feelings around that event is often a very healthy thing to do and an activity that can strengthen and build your resilience.