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What we are experiencing here is pre-disaster denial. It is very hard both intellectually and emotionally to comprehend a disaster of any magnitude either personally or on a regional, national or international scale.
The attitudes and actions demonstrated recently are very similar to that of patients and loved ones who are told of a life threatening diagnosis. Avoidance is the initial reaction, and is extremely common. In fact, it is very healthy to work through a denial process even when the potential of death is quickly approaching. Those directly associated / involved in the crisis will do what ever they can to avoid as much of the situation as possible. This phase is necessary in individual and society?s mind and emotions. It is a release valve that provides time for the facts and painful information to begin to sink in. There will be a great deal of hostility and argumentativeness due to this phase of the life threatening illness trajectory.
We (individuals and societies) have ALL experienced this to one degree or another for a short period of time or for a long period of time depending on our personality, life experiences and current status as we consider disaster situations. No one likes bad news and all want to do what ever they can to make it a better outcome or a ?prettier picture?.
The emotional stages in a medical disaster may be somewhat different from a natural or human initiated disaster since property damage will not occur extensively that would cause facility reconstruction as in a natural disaster such as Hurricane Katrina. A medical disaster will generally combine the initial structure of general emotional stages / phases of a disaster along with thanostic (dying, death, grief and loss) phases and tasks experiences.
With the potential of a mass medical crisis / disaster looming, we will see more denial and hostility towards the messenger. There will be a great deal of lashing out. Once individuals and societies have an opportunity to work through their initial issues, then there will be a more concerted, high intensity as well as frantic effort to combat the disaster threat / potential crisis.
This more advanced phase of awareness and urgency may be the phase that some here at Flutrackers are at currently experiencing. It is very noble to want to do all that one can personally and collectively to reduce the threat and consequences of a medical crisis / disaster. It is vital that the approach that is offered to those who are in the initial phase of denial / identification of a potential disaster threat be productive. If the approach is insisting, aggressive, forceful or especially show intense urgency then there will most likely be an unnecessary and prolonged backlash entrenchment of the initial experience of denial position that can cause undue delay in necessary, healthy, productive actions to help reduce the threat of a disaster or medical crisis.
It can be and often is very frustrating to see individuals and even collection of groups hold to denial positions. It is worth noting however, that it is a healthy thanostic sign, that there is resistance to the accurate and realistic information already provided. It means that ?middle knowledge? is occurring. ?Middle knowledge? is an awareness that floats from one level of consciousness to another. Many will have a sense of what is potentially happening presently or will happen, but, are hesitate even unwilling to put these thoughts into clear focus due to fear and anxiety. In a premedical crisis or other form of pre-disaster situation, it means that the information is being heard by individuals and groups and will be acted on in a manner and sequence that is viable for the individual and / or group.
It would be wonderful if the information being present here at Flutrackers and elsewhere was also being heeded more quickly and without resistance. That sort of response will come in time in its own developmental timetable. This timetable can not be forced, for greater harm and delay can result. The fact that individuals are stating that there is ?no need for concern? etc, is a strong indication that there is a significant shift in individual and general public awareness of the situation in what is known as life-threatening trajectory potential. Often strong protest occurs just prior to acknowledgment that there is a substantial life threatening illness / circumstance. The most intense denial and hostility is most often due to pre-operational knowledge. Strong reaction to those who are currently in some form of denial by those who have advanced from the denial phase can cause greater difficulties later.
There are generally 4 awareness contexts that individuals and societies experience when there is a potential death experience near term. The first is ?closed awareness?. When everyone but the patient knows that there is a death or a shortened life trajectory. Second is ?suspected awareness? which includes suspicion that death or threat of death is possible but the illness has not been confirmed. The third is ?mutual pretense? in which all involved know, but, all are pretending that that the reality does not exist. This is when the ?death horse on the table? or the ?emperor has no clothes? situation occurs and there is strong non-communication or even miscommunication. The fourth awareness is ?open awareness? when everyone knows and acknowledges the life threatening threat, and there is productive communication and healthy recognition that the issue is present. It would be wonderful if everyone could just jump to the fourth awareness immediately and all have productive open awareness, however that is very unrealistic.
Currently we are living in the ?potential death trajectory? experience in which we don?t know when we and / or societies will experience mass fatalities. Once a medical crisis / pandemic disaster occur, we individually and globally will then enter into a living / dying internal of a medical disaster crisis / disaster.
There are generally 5 ways that individuals and groups / societies respond to a potential or actual dying / disaster experience. The 5 responses to ?Is dying / disaster occurring?? include: 1- Reassurance ?The individual or group is doing so well that no one needs to be concerned. The second is ?Denial?. This is the avoidance and utopia response (which many in our society are experiencing). The third is ?redirection or changing the subject / topic?. This is when more cheery / reassuring subjects are discussed and people are reminded of how far medical / technical and social advancement has come over time. The fourth phase is ?fatalism? which is when many will believe that all are going to die from this medical disaster / crisis, this is when severe urgency or panic occurs in individuals and on a society basis. The fifth is ?discussion? when honest, productive and healthy discussion of the circumstances occurs that provide responsible and realistic resolution to the issues present.
Each of these sequences of awareness is necessary and is part of the working out emotionally of the potentially lethal crisis. It is not pleasant to have to watch and participate in the awareness development. Objective and compassionate support to those who are journeying through the different segments of awareness is the most productive and helpful course of action. In public health issues, the desire to respond quickly is helpful when it is paced with the calm, accurate information and astute awareness of the developmental experience of individuals and groups / societies.
Humans and societies are complex and hard headed, that is why they have survived all these centuries. By proactively journeying with them in a respectful manner of their developmental experience will go much farther in assisting and supporting their development. The one thing we don?t like is to hear that it takes time and for some it will never occur. This is a basic reality. I wish we could wave a magic wand and make things better and all would be snug in their begs on Christmas Eve with dreams of sugar plums dancing in their heads and a pantry full of every supply necessary for a disaster from mild to catastrophic in nature. That is my wish but certainly will not be a reality ever. Disciplined, methodical preparation of physical necessities as well as educational resources is the most comprehensive and achievable approach to a disaster situation. Pacing of the information will also be most beneficial. This pacing of information needs to meet the needs of individual and group / society current development not that of needs of those who are at other phases of disaster preparation and development.
It is my intention in writing this article that it provides necessary background information as to how individuals and groups / societies function in facing a potential crisis or threat. It is my firm belief and premise that accurate, clear headed information and nonreactionary actions are the best service that anyone or any group can offer to others in need. The information provided is a compellation of disaster and thanostic materials on the subject to the best of my personal and professional abilities. This material is offered in a spirit of reflection and consideration and in no means is to be considered as intimidating to anyone else?s position or desire of action. I look forward to any and all thoughts and reflections
The attitudes and actions demonstrated recently are very similar to that of patients and loved ones who are told of a life threatening diagnosis. Avoidance is the initial reaction, and is extremely common. In fact, it is very healthy to work through a denial process even when the potential of death is quickly approaching. Those directly associated / involved in the crisis will do what ever they can to avoid as much of the situation as possible. This phase is necessary in individual and society?s mind and emotions. It is a release valve that provides time for the facts and painful information to begin to sink in. There will be a great deal of hostility and argumentativeness due to this phase of the life threatening illness trajectory.
We (individuals and societies) have ALL experienced this to one degree or another for a short period of time or for a long period of time depending on our personality, life experiences and current status as we consider disaster situations. No one likes bad news and all want to do what ever they can to make it a better outcome or a ?prettier picture?.
The emotional stages in a medical disaster may be somewhat different from a natural or human initiated disaster since property damage will not occur extensively that would cause facility reconstruction as in a natural disaster such as Hurricane Katrina. A medical disaster will generally combine the initial structure of general emotional stages / phases of a disaster along with thanostic (dying, death, grief and loss) phases and tasks experiences.
With the potential of a mass medical crisis / disaster looming, we will see more denial and hostility towards the messenger. There will be a great deal of lashing out. Once individuals and societies have an opportunity to work through their initial issues, then there will be a more concerted, high intensity as well as frantic effort to combat the disaster threat / potential crisis.
This more advanced phase of awareness and urgency may be the phase that some here at Flutrackers are at currently experiencing. It is very noble to want to do all that one can personally and collectively to reduce the threat and consequences of a medical crisis / disaster. It is vital that the approach that is offered to those who are in the initial phase of denial / identification of a potential disaster threat be productive. If the approach is insisting, aggressive, forceful or especially show intense urgency then there will most likely be an unnecessary and prolonged backlash entrenchment of the initial experience of denial position that can cause undue delay in necessary, healthy, productive actions to help reduce the threat of a disaster or medical crisis.
It can be and often is very frustrating to see individuals and even collection of groups hold to denial positions. It is worth noting however, that it is a healthy thanostic sign, that there is resistance to the accurate and realistic information already provided. It means that ?middle knowledge? is occurring. ?Middle knowledge? is an awareness that floats from one level of consciousness to another. Many will have a sense of what is potentially happening presently or will happen, but, are hesitate even unwilling to put these thoughts into clear focus due to fear and anxiety. In a premedical crisis or other form of pre-disaster situation, it means that the information is being heard by individuals and groups and will be acted on in a manner and sequence that is viable for the individual and / or group.
It would be wonderful if the information being present here at Flutrackers and elsewhere was also being heeded more quickly and without resistance. That sort of response will come in time in its own developmental timetable. This timetable can not be forced, for greater harm and delay can result. The fact that individuals are stating that there is ?no need for concern? etc, is a strong indication that there is a significant shift in individual and general public awareness of the situation in what is known as life-threatening trajectory potential. Often strong protest occurs just prior to acknowledgment that there is a substantial life threatening illness / circumstance. The most intense denial and hostility is most often due to pre-operational knowledge. Strong reaction to those who are currently in some form of denial by those who have advanced from the denial phase can cause greater difficulties later.
There are generally 4 awareness contexts that individuals and societies experience when there is a potential death experience near term. The first is ?closed awareness?. When everyone but the patient knows that there is a death or a shortened life trajectory. Second is ?suspected awareness? which includes suspicion that death or threat of death is possible but the illness has not been confirmed. The third is ?mutual pretense? in which all involved know, but, all are pretending that that the reality does not exist. This is when the ?death horse on the table? or the ?emperor has no clothes? situation occurs and there is strong non-communication or even miscommunication. The fourth awareness is ?open awareness? when everyone knows and acknowledges the life threatening threat, and there is productive communication and healthy recognition that the issue is present. It would be wonderful if everyone could just jump to the fourth awareness immediately and all have productive open awareness, however that is very unrealistic.
Currently we are living in the ?potential death trajectory? experience in which we don?t know when we and / or societies will experience mass fatalities. Once a medical crisis / pandemic disaster occur, we individually and globally will then enter into a living / dying internal of a medical disaster crisis / disaster.
There are generally 5 ways that individuals and groups / societies respond to a potential or actual dying / disaster experience. The 5 responses to ?Is dying / disaster occurring?? include: 1- Reassurance ?The individual or group is doing so well that no one needs to be concerned. The second is ?Denial?. This is the avoidance and utopia response (which many in our society are experiencing). The third is ?redirection or changing the subject / topic?. This is when more cheery / reassuring subjects are discussed and people are reminded of how far medical / technical and social advancement has come over time. The fourth phase is ?fatalism? which is when many will believe that all are going to die from this medical disaster / crisis, this is when severe urgency or panic occurs in individuals and on a society basis. The fifth is ?discussion? when honest, productive and healthy discussion of the circumstances occurs that provide responsible and realistic resolution to the issues present.
Each of these sequences of awareness is necessary and is part of the working out emotionally of the potentially lethal crisis. It is not pleasant to have to watch and participate in the awareness development. Objective and compassionate support to those who are journeying through the different segments of awareness is the most productive and helpful course of action. In public health issues, the desire to respond quickly is helpful when it is paced with the calm, accurate information and astute awareness of the developmental experience of individuals and groups / societies.
Humans and societies are complex and hard headed, that is why they have survived all these centuries. By proactively journeying with them in a respectful manner of their developmental experience will go much farther in assisting and supporting their development. The one thing we don?t like is to hear that it takes time and for some it will never occur. This is a basic reality. I wish we could wave a magic wand and make things better and all would be snug in their begs on Christmas Eve with dreams of sugar plums dancing in their heads and a pantry full of every supply necessary for a disaster from mild to catastrophic in nature. That is my wish but certainly will not be a reality ever. Disciplined, methodical preparation of physical necessities as well as educational resources is the most comprehensive and achievable approach to a disaster situation. Pacing of the information will also be most beneficial. This pacing of information needs to meet the needs of individual and group / society current development not that of needs of those who are at other phases of disaster preparation and development.
It is my intention in writing this article that it provides necessary background information as to how individuals and groups / societies function in facing a potential crisis or threat. It is my firm belief and premise that accurate, clear headed information and nonreactionary actions are the best service that anyone or any group can offer to others in need. The information provided is a compellation of disaster and thanostic materials on the subject to the best of my personal and professional abilities. This material is offered in a spirit of reflection and consideration and in no means is to be considered as intimidating to anyone else?s position or desire of action. I look forward to any and all thoughts and reflections