Stress Debriefing

What is Critical Incident Stress Management?

- is an adaptive short term helping process that focuses solely on an immediate and identifiable problem to enable the individual(s) affected to return to their daily routine(s) more quickly and with a lessened likelihood of experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder.

So that's why I've been having recurrent dreams inside the hospital with my...mom. 

If you would ask me the question, "What's the bravest thing you did this week?" I would say, "Yesterday morning, I cried my heart out in front of 25 nurses." 

It's kind of weird actually because I'm not the expressive type of person. I usually don't share my feelings that much. I always tend to hold back or lessen the bite of an emotion as much as possible. But yesterday was different. During our Disaster Nursing training, I didn't expect that there would be a 'stress debriefing' portion wherein all of us would have to share the greatest grief and stress that we experienced in the past and is currently experiencing in the present. I was in this room with people that I only met a few months back, some a few weeks and the others, days. I have no idea why but the harder I try not to cry, the easier it is for my tears to keep on coming out. I guess those were repressed emotions desperately trying to float on the surface because they can no longer be contained 'cause the container is already full. 

From what i remember, the last time i cried to someone was when my mother died. That would be in front of my family and on the phone while talking to some of my friends. After that fateful day, November 11, 2009, never did I shared nor showed to anyone what I TRULY felt. I don't know, I didn't even cry when we were in the cemetery to bury the ashes. Some won't talk about it while i'm around, some would avoid the touchy little subject while some would give advices. What i need was a listening ear not a blabbering mouth and an insensitive heart. And yes, yesterday morning I finally got the chance to let it all go.

If you would ask me the question, "What's the bravest thing you did this week?" I would say, "Yesterday morning, I cried my heart out in front of 25 nurses." 

I love my Red Cross family. ♥