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Coping strategies
From The
Providence Center
For adults
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Helping children cope
Today's tragedy
has inspired in all of us a host of powerful emotions: anger, fear, despair,
helplessness, disbelief, shock, sadness. All of these emotions are as overwhelming
as they are normal. As we attempt to emotionally process the events of today,
The Providence Center offers the following coping strategies:
Put it in perspective. It's
important to realize that as tragic as the events of today are, these incidents
or any dramatic act of mass violence is infrequent.
Talk it out. Talking about
your feelings can relieve stress. If you don't feel comfortable talking about
your feelings, try writing them down. The important thing is to acknowledge
and express how you feel.
Maintain your routine. While
you may feel more insecure in the world today, it's very important to continue
with your normal routines at work and home.
Take a break from the news.
With a variety of media at our disposal, it's easy to immerse yourself in all
the details surrounding this tragedy. However, if the news coverage increases
your stress level, try taking a break from watching or reading about the event.
Lend a helping hand. You
may feel some relief if you find a way to help out. In times of tragedy, donating
money, sending letters of support to the victims or rescue workers may reduce
your feelings of helplessness and give you a greater sense of control in an
out-of-control situation.
Practice stress management.
Whenever you are faced with a stressful event, it's important to practice good
stress management. This means exercising, eating nutritiously, participating
in relaxing activities and getting enough rest.
Helping
children cope
Following the Oklahoma
City bombing in 1995, The National Association for the Education of Young Children
(NAEYC) offered these suggestions, which remain valuable as adults try to help
children cope with today's events:
· Don't
expose children to television or radio broadcasts about the disaster. Instead,
provide alternative activities.
· For
children who have seen televised images of the disaster, reassure them that
it happened far from where they live.
· While
you should acknowledge to children your feelings of sadness, avoid anxious discussions
about the event with other adults in the presence of children.
· Take
your cues from the children. Watch children at play. Young children are more
likely to let adults know how they feel through their play than through words.
· What
children need most is to feel that the situation is under control. Following
a tragedy, adults must focus on making children feel safe.
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