Counseling Services: Tips for Coping with War and Terrorisim
Many college students, faced with the war on Iraq and the ongoing
threat of terrorist attacks, find that they now feel uncertain about
a future for which they had just begun to plan. Some may be concerned
about parents, relatives or friends in the military or who are living
overseas. Others may wonder how they, themselves, may become directly
involved in this crisis. No one is unaffected.
Whether you are directly or indirectly impacted, it is important
to know that each person reacts differently to crisis, and it is
common and expected to experience a range of responses. Emotional
responses can appear immediately or sometimes develop months later.
Students who live away from home may have a more difficult time
coping without the reassurance of having family nearby.
Understanding how you feel and taking positive steps to address
those feelings can help you cope. Remember that, while things may
never be quite the same again, they will get better and you will
feel better.
Common Responses to Crises
- Disbelief and shock
- Disorientation; difficulty making decisions or concentrating
- Inability to focus on schoolwork and extracurricular activities
- Apathy and emotional numbing
- Sadness and depression
- Fear and anxiety about the future
- Intrusive thoughts; replaying events in our minds
- Excessive worry about safety and vulnerability; feeling powerless
- Crying for "no apparent reason"
- Irritability and anger
- Headaches and stomach problems
- Difficulty sleeping
- Extreme changes in eating patterns; loss of appetite or overeating
- Excessive use of alcohol or drugs
Tips for Coping
- Talk about it. Encourage others to share their
perspectives. Sharing your feelings with friends, classmates,
professors, advisors and family will help you work through your
emotions. Talking with others will relieve stress and help you
realize that you're not alone with your feelings
- Take care of yourself. Get plenty of rest and
exercise. Do things that you find relaxing and soothing. Remember
to eat nutritious foods. Limit your exposure to media reports
and images of the war. Avoid excessive drinking and risk-taking
activities. Try to maintain your usual routines.
- Stay connected. Maintain contact with friends
and family. Make plans to visit family or others who can offer
reassurance. If you can't visit them in person, increase your
contact through phone calls and e-mails.
- Do something positive. Do something that will
help you gain a greater sense of control (for example, give blood,
take a First Aid class, collect donations for "care packages"
for people in the military or write letters to service men and
women). Whether you support or oppose the war, you can write letters
to elected officials or get involved in campus activities, such
as a candlelight vigil, benefit, discussion group or special lecture.
- Ask for help. If you feel overwhelmed by events,
remember that it's not a sign of weakness. Talk with a trusted
friend, family member or spiritual advisor. Use on-campus resources,
such as the college counseling center and health center, or reach
out to community resources, such as faith leaders or the local
mental health association.
If you have strong feelings that won't go away, or if you're troubled
for longer than four to six weeks, you may want to seek professional
help. Being unable to manage your responses to a crisis and to resume
your regular activities may be a symptom of depression, anxiety
or post-traumatic stress disorder. People who have existing mental
health problems and those with a history of trauma may want to check
in with a mental health care professional. Help is available. You
don't have to deal with this alone.
The National Mental Health Association (NMHA) has resources to help
you cope, including fact sheets on post-traumatic stress disorder,
depression, coping with loss and other issues. Visit our Website
at www.nmha.org or call our toll-free
line at 800-969-NMHA.
For additional information, visit the following Websites:
For more information, contact your local Mental Health Association,
or the National Mental Health Association at 800-969-NMHA (6642)
or www.nmha.org.
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