4 | DECEMBER 22 • 2022
guest column
Minimizing the
Risk of Trauma
W
e all experience
crisis in our
lifetimes, whether
that is something expected,
such as death of a loved one
who is much older than we
are or something unexpected
and tragic. In the
midst of it, we
feel overwhelmed
and temporarily
unable to cope.
But, for many
people, with time
and support, the
crisis resolves.
For some though, that
chaotic time of crisis is
processed inside our brains
and bodies as trauma, and that
can disrupt our lives for much
longer. While every trauma has
a reaction to a very stressful
crisis at its root, not every
crisis has to be processed as a
trauma. Why does this matter?
And why is it so important
now?
The dramatic increase in
open antisemitism across
the country and in our local
community has many people
on edge. The event that took
place at Temple Beth El during
its Early Childhood Education
drop-off a few weeks ago sent
shockwaves rippling through
the community as it hit a little
too close to home. While this
is very disturbing on a societal
level, for some, the impact
is also concerning on an
individual level.
WHEN AN EVENT IS
PROCESSED AS TRAUMA
When we see, hear or learn
about an event such as the
incident at Temple Beth El that
is deeply disturbing, shocking
and totally outside our normal
experience, we feel unsafe. And
the danger can be reinforced
each time we read about it
on social media, causing us
to feel overwhelmed and
helpless, triggering our built-in
physiologic response to stress.
This can impact us in a
variety of ways ranging from
disrupted sleep, anxiety,
agitation, rapid, shallow
breathing and a pounding
heart to difficulty processing
or remembering information,
confusion, irritation, increased
sadness or uncontrollable
crying, to name just a few
possible symptoms.
While people’s reactions can
vary tremendously, be assured
that the stress response is a
normal reaction to an abnormal
event. We are biologically
hardwired to respond to
stressful events in this way in
order to act swiftly to keep
ourselves safe and out of harm’s
way. In short, stress isn’t just
an emotion we feel, but it’s
something that lives in our
bodies.
The good news, though, is
that for many people, these
symptoms resolve on their
own. But for some, symptoms
can persist. These lingering
signs of acute stress are not a
sign of mental illness, but, if
unaddressed, they can leave us
more vulnerable to developing
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD).
However, a single
conversation with a trained
crisis intervention first
responder can help people
return to their normal baseline
functioning much sooner
and reduce the likelihood of
developing PTSD. Luckily,
expert help is readily available
in the community.
Last year, the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit brought members of
the Israeli Trauma Coalition
(ITC) to train a group of Jewish
Family Service staff to become
crisis responders.
The Israeli Trauma
Coalition, created in 2002, is
a collaboration between the
Israeli government and several
nongovernmental agencies
sharing expertise in the field
of trauma, trauma prevention
and recovery. With over 20
years of boots-on-the-ground
practice in the region, the
ITC, unfortunately, has a
wealth of experience in crisis
management and trauma
intervention. Who better to
prepare us to know how to
help in the immediacy of an
incident? The ITC returned
again earlier this year to
help JFS learn how to train
others, both professionals and
community members.
The JFS Crisis Response
Team has been intervening
when requested for months
and plans to begin rolling
out the training to others in
early 2023 in hopes that there
will be enough trained crisis
responders in the community at
some point that no community
member will experience a crisis
without assistance available
within 48 hours.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
For example, someone in the
parking lot at Beth El at the
time of the incident may have
felt triggered and experienced
a physiological stress response.
This can happen to any person
after such an experience, even
with no history of mental
health issues or prior trauma.
To help prevent any long-
term impact, a call could be
made to JFS to request support
from the Crisis Response Team.
Ideally, this takes place in the
first 48 hours following a crisis,
although there is no limit
to when a person can reach
out for help. Interventions
typically happen as a one-time
appointment, last no more than
an hour and often take place in
a community setting. The crisis
responder guides each person
through a specific model
designed to help them return
to baseline functioning and
provides resources for ongoing
support if needed.
If you need support in the
immediate aftermath of a crisis,
please reach out to the JFS
Crisis Response team at (248)
592-2313.
Lynn Breuer, LMSW, CDP, is Senior
Director of Community Outreach and
Wellness at Jewish Family Service.
Temple Beth El
PURELY COMMENTARY
Lynn Breuer