CNN reports that more than 230,000 Americans and about 800,000 Canadians remain without electrical power and some areas received even more snow on Friday. At American Red Cross shelters in Maine, local magicians, musicians and comedy troupes have volunteered their time to keep residents entertained. The storm has been taxing emotionally because it has forced so many people to be dependent on situations they don't control, says Red Cross mental health worker Donna Vanderwall. For example, residents wonder when the power crews will reach their neighborhoods and when it will stop snowing. But they have no say over these situations.
Platitudes are the worst thing in the world.
Children, too, are growing restless and showing it by crying or not acting their age. Vanderwall and other mental health workers are making sure they are there to listen and help those who have grown impatient work through their own solutions. The unknown is very difficult for people to deal with. Most people think they are really independent and they probably are in a lot of respects. In those cases, she reminds people if the roles were reversed they would not hesitate to offer help to someone.