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Survivors of the 9/11 attack continue to deal with its impact on their lives.

Reactions to the attack are varied and complex and range from pathology to personal growth.

Personal survivor stories can aid trauma victims in their own recovery journey.

Survivors of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon have now dealt with their aftereffects for a quarter of a century. Their personal stories are diverse. Some continue to suffer emotionally with trauma and stress-related disorders. Others who were adversely impacted emotionally eventually recovered and now live stable and well-adjusted lives. Some were able to resume their lives with little or no effect on day-to-day adjustment. And others, over time, grew from their experiences on that fateful day.

Four Trajectories Following Trauma

These four outcomes—pathology, resilience, invulnerability, and personal growth—are common responses to adversity and trauma.[1] By necessity, mental health professionals focus on understanding and treating pathologies such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. It is worth noting, however, that trauma survivors, especially over time, may experience multiple trajectories. With treatment and social support, pathology may be followed by resilience or even personal growth. It is unwise and unfair to categorize anyone’s response to trauma with a single label. The human response to major trauma is complicated and highly personal.

A 9/11 Survivor’s Personal Story

Army Lieutenant Colonel Marilyn Wills, a survivor of the Pentagon attack, was working in the section of the Pentagon struck by American Airlines Flight 77. In the chaos that followed, she was able to escape through a second-floor window when Commander Craig Powell, a Navy SEAL assigned to the Pentagon, caught her in a fall. Although she bravely assisted others in evacuating the building, many of her colleagues did not survive the........

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