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You may be struggling to understand how a shooting
rampage could take place at a college campus and why such a terrible
thing would happen. There may never be satisfactory answers to these
questions.
We do know, though, that it is typical for people to
experience a variety of emotions following such a traumatic event.
These feelings can include shock, sorrow, numbness, fear, anger,
disillusionment, grief and others. You may find that you have trouble
sleeping, concentrating, eating or remembering even simple tasks. This
is common and should pass after a while. Over time, the caring support
of family and friends can help to lessen the emotional impact and
ultimately make the changes brought about by the tragedy more
manageable. You may feel that the world is a more dangerous place today
than you did yesterday. It will take some time to recover your sense of
equilibrium.
Meanwhile, you may wonder how to go on living your daily
life. You can strengthen your resilience-the ability to adapt well in
the face of adversity-in the days and weeks ahead.
Here are some tips:
Talk about it - Ask for support from people who care
about you and who will listen to your concerns. Receiving support and
care can be comforting and reassuring. It often helps to speak with
others who have shared your experience so you do not feel so different
or alone.
Strive for balance - When a tragedy occurs, it's easy to
become overwhelmed and have a negative or pessimistic outlook. Balance
that viewpoint by reminding yourself of people and events which are
meaningful and comforting, even encouraging. Striving for balance
empowers you and allows for a healthier perspective on yourself and the
world around you.
Turn it off and take a break - You may want to keep
informed, but try to limit the amount of news you take in whether it's
from the internet, television, newspapers or magazines. While getting
the news informs you, being overexposed to it can actually increase
your stress. The images can be very powerful in reawakening your
feeling of distress. Also, schedule some breaks to distract yourself
from thinking about the incident and focus instead on something you
enjoy. Try to do something that will lift your spirits.
Honor your feelings - Remember that it is common to have
a range of emotions after a traumatic incident. You may experience
intense stress similar to the effects of a physical injury. For
example, you may feel exhausted, sore, or off balance.
Take care of yourself - Engage in healthy behaviors to
enhance your ability to cope with excessive stress. Eat well-balanced
meals, get plenty of rest, and build physical activity into your day.
Avoid alcohol and drugs because they can suppress your feelings rather
than help you to manage and lessen your distress. In addition, alcohol
and drugs may intensify your emotional or physical pain. Establish or
reestablish routines such as eating meals at regular times and
following an exercise program. If you are having trouble sleeping, try
some relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation, or
yoga.
Help others or do something productive - Locate
resources in your community on ways that you can help people who have
been affected by this incident, or have other needs. Helping someone
else often has the benefit of making you feel better, too.
If you have recently lost friends or family in this or
other tragedies - Remember that grief is a long process. Give yourself
time to experience your feelings and to recover. For some, this might
involve staying at home; for others it may mean getting back to your
daily routine. Dealing with the shock and trauma of such an event will
take time. It is typical to expect many ups and downs, including
"survivor guilt"-feeling bad that you escaped the tragedy
while others did not.
For many people, using the tips and strategies mentioned
above may be sufficient to get through the current crisis. At times,
however an individual can get stuck or have difficulty managing intense
reactions. A licensed mental health professional such as a psychologist
can assist you in developing an appropriate strategy for moving
forward. It is important to get professional help if you feel like you
are unable to function or perform basic activities of daily living.
Recovering from such a tragic event may seem difficult
to imagine. Persevere and trust in your ability to get through the
challenging days ahead. Taking the steps in this guide can help you
cope at this very difficult time.
Copyright 2008
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