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altruistic reactions and risk their lives trying to save
other people, even if they are strangers.
Any reaction that would seem surprising and ama-
zing in any other situation, becomes normal at this
point. For this reason, we should not judge our per-
formance during the event, or try to assess it and
think whether or not it met our expectations and
those of others, if we could have done things diffe-
rently, or if we failed to do something. Survival reac-
tions are not the result of reflection. Our degree of
control in these situations is, whether we like it or
not, very small.
Post-impact phase:
Once the impact phase caused by the blasts du-
ring the attack is over, the priority shifts to rescuing
and ensuring survival. Some of the previous reac-
tions may be extended, or new ones may appear.
Confusion, lightheadedness, and denial of what ha-
ppened are common reactions in this phase. Some
people may walk for hours, feeling disoriented,
without even being able to provide relevant infor-
mation about where the people who accompanied
them when the bombs went off were. Reactions re-
lated to a high alert and activation state, such as tre-
mors, rapid heartbeat, feeling of inability to breathe
or vomiting, frequent jolts, sudden and uncontrolled
flashbacks, and deep sadness and hopelessness, are
also frequent at this time. This may be accompanied
by intense emotional reactions and outbursts of
anger, hate, crying, screaming, or wailing.
Recovery phase:
This is a prolonged phase that is estimated to begin
weeks after the impact, after the rescue phase of the
victims is over, and continues until those affected go
back to their daily routine and activities. Its duration
depends, to a great extent, on the damage suffered.
Activation reactions, sleeping and concentration diffi-
culties, nightmares, difficulty to deal with one’s own
memories, situations related to the attack, feelings
of guilt, disorganized memories, even partial memory
loss, as well as other reactions that we already dis-
cussed in previous sections are quite common.
At the beginning of the recovery phase and soon
after the attack, there is usually a period of time in
which the victims receive a great deal of support
and protection that stems from solidarity reactions
from society. Then, they move on to a disillusion-
ment and abandonment phase, when the support
initiatives organized begin to withdraw, tributes and
expressions of support cease, and victims begin to
suffer the reality of their loss, and the problems and
constraints of bureaucracy, while facing all the chan-
ges and losses resulting from their new situation.
It is necessary to keep on providing accessible so-
cial and psychological support for the most severely
affected during this phase.
Feelings of guilt, trying to give logical explanations
for what happened, sleeping and concentration
difficulties, fatigue and difficulties in interperso-
nal relationships and at work are also common.
However, in time, these reactions usually decrease,
and those affected manage to regain some sense
of normalcy. Even if we have sad memories, and
things change for good after the attack, we must
realize that this experience will always be part of
us, as this will allow us to feel that we have regai-
ned control of our lives.