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Living Healthy, Working Well |
Wellness
Tips Tragedy Aftermath: Taking Care of Yourself Having just experienced the shock and pain of a
tragedy, you may be very shaken for the next few days or weeks. As the immediate shock wears off, you will
start to rebuild and put your life back together. During this time, you may
experience a range of emotions. In the wake of such events, it is not
uncommon for you to feel let down and resentful many months following. Some common responses to a disaster include[1]: ·
Irritability/Anger ·
Sadness ·
Fatigue ·
Headaches or Nausea ·
Loss of Appetite ·
Hyperactivity ·
Inability to Sleep ·
Lack of Concentration ·
Nightmares ·
Increase in Alcohol or Drug Consumption Many victims of tragedy will have at least one of
these responses. Acknowledging your feelings is the first step in feeling
better. Other helpful things to do include[2]: ·
Talk about your
experiences.
Sharing your feelings rather than holding them in will help you feel better
about what happened. ·
Pay attention to your
health, diet, and adequate sleep. Relaxation exercises may help if you have
difficulty sleeping. ·
Prepare for possible
future emergencies to lessen feelings of helplessness and bring peace of mind. Call Your
EAP [1] www.lafd.org/eqindex.htm 2 ibid © 2001 Magellan Health Services |
