Grieving the Mining Disaster

Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of the known miners who tragically lost their lives in a huge underground explosion blamed on methane gas in West Virginia. Twenty-five coal miners in the worst U.S. mining disaster in more than two decades have died. Four others are still missing and their chances of survival are dim. Each family’s story is heartbreaking and we hope they find strength and support in the days ahead.

If you are grieving a sudden, traumatic death, please know that you are not alone. It is important to understand that a sudden death falls outside our usual experience, what we expect life to be like. Abruptly losing a special person can shatter our sense of well-being. We may experience very strong reactions that could include fear, helplessness, shock, anger, and, sometimes, horror. These reactions are normal responses to an extremely difficult time in our lives. These trauma reactions mix with our grief, and the results can be overwhelming.

Things that Help

The signs and symptoms of a stress reaction may last a few days, a few weeks, a few months, or longer, depending on the severity of the traumatic death. The understanding and support of family and friends can help the stress reactions pass more quickly. There are a number of things that can help during this very difficult time.

· Maintain as normal a schedule as possible (as impossible as it seems); structure your time
· Follow the basics for good health (even when you don’t feel like it) – rest, eat well, exercise
· Reduce other stressors as much as possible – make to do lists, be patient with yourself when you can’t find your keys, limit distractions that might interfere with concentration
· Be aware of numbing the pain with overuse of drugs or alcohol; go easy on caffeine
· Talk to people – reach out, spend time with others
· Do things that feel good to you – take a walk, listen to music, keep a feelings journal, etc.
· Give yourself permission to feel the pain and share these feelings with others
· Don't feel the need to fight reoccurring thoughts, dreams or flashbacks; they are normal and will decrease overtime and become less painful