Bottled emotions

Tragic events such as the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and this month's Continental Flight 3407 plane crash have shocked the nation, creating the need for counseling services for all those involved.

To try and cope with disturbed emotions is commonly, yet inaccurately, assumed that people need to share their emotions or they will be dangerously suppressing their feelings. Research has found is not the case, according to UB assistant psychology professor Mark Seery.

Seery helped conduct a Web-based survey study that followed a national random sample of a few thousand Americans before, during and after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The research measured the coping mechanisms of individuals and assessed their thoughts and feelings over a long period of time in order to determine the best method to handle negative emotions.

Seery concluded through observations of people who had experienced great tragedies in their lives that people who chose not to share their feelings tended to cope better with their negative feelings after some time.

"Our research showed that people who didn't assess their feelings at first proved to be better off than those who initially did, which seems to be a sign that those people are simply better equipped to handle any negative emotions, not that they are suppressing their feelings and will face its consequences later," Seery said. "People are surprisingly resilient. A lot of evidence shows people do a great job of coping with their emotions because they know what is best for them."

Regarding Flight 3407, Seery stated that some people may or may not want to attend memorial services, speeches and other commemorative events in order to cope with the tragedy, but that it all comes down to whatever individuals have found as a good method of coping.

People are usually quite good at measuring their emotional needs, according to Seery.

Studies have shown that talking can be helpful, but that does not mean it is right for everyone. For Marissa Vogelhut, a junior psychology major, expressing her emotions immediately was the most satisfying way to handle the stress.

"I took a flight into Buffalo only a few days before the plane crash happened here," Vogelhut said. "I had spoken in depth with a really nice flight attendant throughout my trip, so when I discovered the plane that crashed was the same one I had been on just days before, I was really upset and worried that the woman who was so sweet to me might have been a victim of the accident. I needed to vent to friends and find out for sure if it took her life, and thankfully it did not and my mind is at ease."

For Lior Kraft, a junior business major, dealing with emotions is best done in a more personal fashion.

"Even when I may be extremely upset over something, I like to not let people see my emotion," Kraft said. "It is not because I'm embarrassed or think that I shouldn't let people in for fear of how they will perceive me, but I am a private person and letting people see me hurt only hurts me further."

The study has proven that there is a danger in making people feel they need to talk, according to Seery. He believes that forcing people to open up may not be helpful and usually causes second-guessing, leading people to think there is something wrong with them for wanting to keep to themselves in times of grief.

"I would suspect an incident such as [Flight 3407] will have a big impact on the nation, state and local community, as well on individual levels," Seery said. "There could be a high risk of post-traumatic stress for those who lost loved ones in the accident and also psychological distress for all observing."

However, Seery felt it important to emphasize that he does not think it is a bad idea for a person to talk to a psychologist if he or she feels the need. It can be very beneficial for some people dealing with strong emotions.

His research has led to the conclusion that it is acceptable for a person to talk about his or her feelings from a tragic incident, but it is also just as acceptable to not talk about it, depending on what works for each individual.