I know that in my long life here in Los Angeles, I have lived through many what could be called traumas. It started as a child when the Watts Riots hit. I was visiting my grandparents at the time, but the news (in the eyes of a child) showed all of Los Angeles in the middle of the riots & buildings all around being burnt......as far as I knew at the time, it was right where I lived. Later, I arrived in Topeka Kansas (1966) 1 week after a massive tornado went through the city. I saw all the damage first hand & knew many of the people who lost their homes or were completely destroyed.

Later in my life, I lived through the Sylmar earthquake. The damage all around me was devistating. I couldn't imagine how shaking earth could do so much damage......luckily, the walls of my home stayed up around me even though almost everything around me came down. I remember the aftershocks would always hit when I was on the toilet.....talk about fear.....never wanted to be caught like that in the middle of a disaster.

Of course then came the riots about the Rodney King case. There were problems all around LA. You couldn't go out of your house after dark because of the curfew. You never knew where shooting would occur......it wasn't safe to drive almost anywhere during that time.

Of course, the Northridge earthquake hit in 1994 & wouldn't you know, it was right at the time I was having anxiety attacks due to my work situation any......then it took me 6 hours to drive to work & 6 hours home...9 hours at work (once it opened up again)....leaving 3 hours for sleep when I was already having stress problems.....yes, the straw that broke the camels back. Having to go to work brought me right into the desaster area.....all I could see was smoke from the fires, the freeway I used to leave where I live was destroyed when the overpasses collapsed. There were holes in the streets that were big enough for a huge truck to fall into. Homes were completely collapsed & no utilities for months.

Going through all of these situations, allowed me to realize that those of us who live through these disasters take care of ourselves & those around us, including those families who had lost someone.....we band together & work toward the common goal of survival. It is not that we don't appreciate the help from others.....don't get me wrong on that account....caring people all around mean a lot at the time too. From my experience however, it is the pooling together of those of us with the common experience help each other both physically & mentally. I realized later that others just worring about us wasn't what helped.

I guess that is why at the point of other disasters like the twin towers & pentagon, hurricanes, the bombings in England, and many other situations, I have come to realize that the people who are actually living through the devastation are banding together just like we did. Providing support for those who can actually provide help does good, but my worrying does nothing to help them. I try very hard to not to let myself get to the point where worring does harm to myself. I believe in trying to find out what actual help I can provide, & caring in that way is important, but I have put worring into perspective of how I managed to live through the traumatic situations that have hit my life.

I hope I don't sound callus or uncaring.....I care & am very sad to see people have to manage through such traumas & loose family members.....my heart goes out to all who are managing through these horrible experiences with deep understanding of what they are going through even though my situations were very different. I keep focusing on "WE SURVIVE" in spite of it all. The looting angers me.....the fire department sending search dogs & supplies for the disaster help makes me proud of what help can do. We can care by support those that can give a helping hand, but allowing our worring to harm ourselved does nothing to help anyone......it is important to keep our perspective.

Debbie