Training Module on the Right to Mental Health for the Security Sector
“Okay, just squeeze my hand, put the fear into my hand, just hold on and
let it drain into my hand like an electric current, like you’re discharging a
battery. Feel yourself relax as the fear drains away. That’s it, all the excess
fear and tension is flowing out of you: You can handle this, you’re getting
stronger, you’ll make it, you’ll be okay. All right, take a deep breath, and let
go slowly when you’re ready.”
At subsequent intervals during the critical incident, this technique can
be repeated silently and unobtrusively when necessary, appearing like a
normal handshake.
With practice, it can be internalized so all the subject has to do is think about it
or clench their own fist to reevoke the tension-reducing feeling.
TECHNIQUE #2 Walking, Drinking, Performing
To break the sense of physical and mental paralysis that often accompanies
posttraumatic numbing, have the victim take a little walk with you, let him get
a drink of water, or give him a simple but useful task to perform.
Just being able to move one’s body around in a productive way can
sometimes restore a feeling of efficacy and control:
“See, your legs still work, you can move your hands. You’re not completely
useless.”
Even where there has been a limiting physical injury, there is almost always
some activity or body function that the victim can perform.
Anything that will show the victim that there’s some shred of normality left,
that something still works, can help contribute to a sense of safety and hope.
TECHNIQUE #3 Capture the Attention
With extremely distraught, disoriented, regressed, or psychologically
immobilized victims, you may have to provide a breakthrough stimulus to
capture the person’s attention.
This may involve shouting, making a loud noise, or gently shaking the severely
traumatized victim to break the numbing spell of dissociation that they are
entombed in.
This technique should be reserved for situations where it is an emergency to
get the subject’s attention and cooperation, such as getting out of a dangerous
area quickly.
Forget about slapping the victim’s face: that is for the movies and almost never
works in real life; besides, you could risk further injury. No cold water in the
face, either—but giving the victim a sip of a cold drink often helps.
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