Coping with a stressful event
What's going on?
There are many events that can be categorised as stressful. Examples of these are being involved in or witnessing an accident, being a victim of or witnessing abuse or violence, or losing someone close to you. Any stressful event can have an influence on how you feel emotionally.
After a stressful event it is normal to feel some stress, anxiety, sadness or to be afraid and it can take time for you to adjust to a lifestyle you are comfortable with again.
If your experience causes you to have flashbacks of the event, have bad dreams, lose your of appetite, lack sleep or become distant from day to day activities you may want to consult your doctor or a counsellor.
What can I do?
It is important that you deal with the feelings and reactions you are having so that they don't become overwhelming. Here are some things that may be helpful:- Scream it
- Paint it! - This is an another way of letting go of your feelings. Here you can draw a picture or image, which may help to express what is going on for you.
- Keeping a diary - It may help to keep a diary where you can write down your feelings, as well as anything else that you wish to write about.
- Talking to someone - Sometimes bottling your thoughts inside you can make the reactions worse. It may be helpful to talk to a friend or family member about the event and what you are feeling. It may also be helpful for you to share your feelings with someone who was involved in the event.
- Seeking help - Your local doctor, clinical psychologist, counsellor or youth worker will be able to help you with strategies to cope with your feelings and reactions. If things are really bad then they can give you medication, which will assist in calming you.
