Kathy Trant and her daughter, Jessica, think of it as “blood money.”
Shrinks say some relatives of 9/11 victims feel guilty about getting large amounts of compensation money very quickly. As a result, they feel a need to get rid of it just as fast.
“It’s understandable they’re spending it so quickly,” said NYU psychiatry Professor Kerry Sulkowicz.
“To keep living off that money may feel like an unbearable reminder of the loss for the rest of their lives.”
Columbia University psychologist Paula Madrid said the relatives may also feel a need to live for today.
“They may feel that since their loved one died, perhaps they are at risk, as well, and why not spend the money now that they are alive?” she said. “This leaves them feeling sad, empty and unsatisfied because they are not working on their grief and anxiety.”