Ukraine, Italian psychologist at the front: “Refugees remove realities of war, then comes the collapse”

In the phase of crossing the border “there is a sort of removal, a fantastic re-elaboration of the context. They are convinced that soon they will return home, that everything will be over, and there is a reaction of total distance from reality. The problem arises when they arrive at their destination: there they become aware that they have left their homeland, there is a collapse and the defenses fail, with all the problems involved “. Dr. Matteo Mangiagalli, psychologist coordinator of the psychological support area for the Ukrainian emergency for the NGO Soleterre, which has been operating in the field at the border for a month, tells AdnKronos about the psychological state of Ukrainian refugees forced to leave the country Ukrainian – Polish to provide assistance and support to the thousands of civilians who cross the borders. “Once the adrenaline that helps to carry on the flight is gone, selective mutism, closure, panic, anxiety, lack of sleep are found, which are the most frequent consequences”, explains the psychologist. Who, even as a specialist, used to dealing with emotional distress, admits: “The situation is emotionally intense. From the trauma point of view, they are all people who have left their roots overnight, so there is the trauma of war, fear of death, the anguish of not knowing what happened to their male relatives (forced to stay and enlist to fight, ed) and the whole theme of anguish about the future “. Because, after the escape, an unknown world opens up before them: “A small percentage already have references on where to go or to whom, but all the others have no idea, and must make the decision on where to go in short. time, a huge stress “. Two things that struck the expert in this intense month of war: “The attention that so many people had for animals struck me enormously – Mangiagalli explains to AdnKronos – Many people arrived with an animal in their arms, which it serves not only to cultivate affection for him, but also to keep alive a concept of family and home that becomes indispensable. That animal becomes a piece of home “. The second is “the dignity in everyday life of these people – the psychologist reveals to AdnKronos – who, arriving in waves, especially in the first days of the conflict, were piled up side by side in cots. I have never seen moments of tension, of contrast. It is true that the Polish welcome was commendable, but it is also true that in moments of such stress it can happen that there are disorders. Here, what I will carry inside is certainly the dignity of these people on the run “. (by Ilaria Floris)