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Traumatized? Keep It to Yourself

Talking things out after crises not always beneficial: study

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 2, 2008 6:19 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Contrary to popular belief, talking about your emotions after a traumatizing large-scale event can be less helpful than keeping your feelings bottled up. A study of nearly 3,000 people who were exposed to but not directly affected by the 9/11 attacks reached the startling conclusion that people who didn't express emotions about the tragedy coped better than those who did, the CBC reports

"We should be telling people there is likely nothing wrong if they do not want to express their thoughts and feelings after experiencing a collective trauma," said the lead researcher. "In fact, they can cope quite successfully and are likely to be better off than someone who does want to express his or her feelings."
 

The New York Police Department's surveillance helicopter hovers above Ground Zero, foreground, Tuesday, May 6, 2008. People who bottled up their feelings after 9/11 coped better, researchers found.
The New York Police Department's surveillance helicopter hovers above Ground Zero, foreground, Tuesday, May 6, 2008. People who bottled up their feelings after 9/11 coped better, researchers found.   (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Researchers found that people who bottled up their feelings after 9/11 coped better.
Researchers found that people who bottled up their feelings after 9/11 coped better.   (Shutterstock.com)
Researchers found that people who bottled up their feelings after 9/11 coped better.
Researchers found that people who bottled up their feelings after 9/11 coped better.   (Shutterstock.com)
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Legions of grief counselors may not be a panacea
Ottawa Citizen

Trauma specialist cautions against jumping to conclusions
BBC

More on the methodology
Press Association

 
September 11 • emotion • psychological research • trauma

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