You may struggle to understand how a shooting could occur 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 various emotions following such a traumatic event. These feelings can include shock, sorrow, numbness, fear, anger, disillusionment, grief and others.
It is common to have difficulty sleeping, concentrating, eating or remembering even simple tasks and should pass after a while. Over time, the caring support of family and friends can help 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 it was yesterday. It will take some time to recover your sense of equilibrium.
Meanwhile, you may wonder how to go about living your daily life. In the days and weeks ahead, you can strengthen your resilience—the ability to adapt well in the face of adversity.
Tips for coping
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 outlook. Balance that viewpoint by reminding yourself of meaningful, comforting, and encouraging people and events. 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 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 feelings 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 expected 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 manage and lessen your distress. In addition, alcohol and drugs may intensify your emotional or physical pain.
If you are having trouble sleeping, try relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation or yoga.
Help others or do something productive: Locate resources in your community that can help people who have been affected by this incident or have other needs. Helping someone else often makes 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 returning 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.
The tips and strategies mentioned above may be sufficient for many people 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 essential to get professional help if you feel like you cannot function or perform basic activities of daily living.
Recovering from such a tragic event may seem difficult. However, persevere and trust in your ability to get through the challenging days ahead.
Source: American Psychological Association
