How to deal with war refugees?
Psychologist clarifies: "no touching"
Created: 08/15/2022, 06:57
Refugees from Ukraine are often traumatized by their war experiences.
This makes it difficult for people who want to help them to deal with them.
© Stefan Puchner/dpa/archive image
A psychologist explains how to deal with war trauma.
People from Ukraine, Syria or Afghanistan need special treatment.
Wolfratshausen – Many people who fled Ukraine have war trauma.
How do I deal with this as a volunteer?
Ines Lobenstein from the Wolfratshausen Asylum Aid Association recently organized a lecture in the Evangelical parish hall.
How to deal with war refugees?
Psychologist clarifies: "no touching"
The speaker was the psychologist Polina Hilsenbeck from Uffing.
She first named the signs of trauma: concentration and memory disorders, jumpiness, restlessness and being driven, sleep disorders and nightmares.
Some refugees develop depression, which manifests itself in a lack of drive and appetite, a petrified or empty gaze, even complete resignation and fainting.
Anyone who suddenly appears “ready to fight” could also have gone through bad things.
"Often you don't even recognize a trauma," pointed out the psychologist.
But one thing has been proven: the accommodation in gyms, without privacy and retreat possibilities, retraumatizes.
Polina Hilsenbeck Psychologist from Uffing © Andrea Keiss
Refugees from Ukraine have war trauma: an expert explains how to deal with it
When dealing with the war refugees - whether as a helper in the Wolfratshausen gym or as a host - there are two things better not to do: touch the people without prior notice and ask them about their escape.
Conversely, if someone wants to talk about it or shows the need to be hugged, as a helper you have to weigh up how close you want to let the other person and their story get to you.
Support for Ukraine refugees - psychologist advises: put your cell phone away and distract it
According to Polina Hilsenbeck, you can support the people being cared for by accompanying them through everyday life in Germany and “keeping them in the present” so that they don’t constantly follow war news or other things on their mobile phones.
Sports, hiking, games and singing distracted me.
Knitting and crocheting are very good for "clearing your head" because concentrating on these handicrafts has a relaxing effect, the expert said.
It is important to give people creative opportunities and to organize an exchange with other Ukrainians in the area.
Tasks are also good for children who live in the household of the hosts.
A young person who loves the family dog, for example, should be allowed to go for a walk with him if that is easily feasible.
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Again and again it happens that the volunteers themselves are heavily burdened by their work.
They have feelings of guilt towards their own children or friends because everything revolves around the refugees.
You ponder seemingly unsolvable problems for hours and can hardly switch off.
The images of the war haunt her.
Some even develop a reluctance towards the cared for or roommates.
"Observe those warning signs should you temporarily withdraw," Hilsenbeck advised.
If living together under one roof no longer works, accommodation for the guests must be organized with other helpers.
Ines Lobenstein emphasized that the volunteers could contact her at any time in such cases.
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