Hot Tips From Survivors:
What We Wish We Had Known Earlier.....
These tips were collected when Network members heard London bomb survivors saying they felt as isolated and lacking in informed support as they did after the train crash - even if they had helpful families and friends.
The most commonly expressed regrets are:
- Not acting sooner to get help before small personal problems became big ones
- Not getting legal advice earlier from people with disaster experience
- People at home, school and work not having support and information to understand them. Too many GPs gave little useful information about trauma.
- Wasting time and energy on feeling guilty about being less injured or alive
- Not realising what a difference informed help could make, nor how many positives could emerge from darkness.
- Wishing they hadn't felt pressure to return to work or get back on a train before they were really ready.
We hope all survivors find what they need. Recovery can be a tough and costly business but the learning can be immense. Even if you choose self-help, know that you are not alone and others who have gone before are around to encourage and help you.