1. Keep in touch
Often there is a tendency to want to withdrawal. It is important to keep connected and communicate with your important relationships. Let those that care about you know what is happening so that they do not need to worry about the “what if’s”.
Social Media, texting, and group emails are easy ways to stay connected that require less effort.
2. Self-care and get back to routines
Important as it is to put some normalcy back into your life, many have a tendency to overdo. Especially when the To Do list of clean up and recovery seems endless.
As difficult as it may be, allow yourself to get a full night sleep and if needed take cat naps during the day. Instead of the ‘grab and go food’, set aside some time to eat good nutritious food. And even better, to sit down and eat with your friends and family, even if it means in a picnic’esque setting.
Others ways to distress would be to get a manicure, a massage or just give yourself permission to sit with a cup of tea and do nothing
3. Explore your coping mechanisms
We all have our own ways to cope. Even those that experienced the same situation may be impacted and react differently. Be kind to those that may not cope in the same manner or timeline as you.
Speaking about our experiences can be healing. Sharing your story with friends or family and also with those that shared in the experience helps to release the trauma that you may have experienced. Sometimes people cope by listening to others stories.
If speaking isn’t a comfortable mode, writing in a diary or journal is also very rewarding.
5. Source your information
Although news channels and social media mean to convey correct info, at times it is misleading. Often times news anchors are not from the local community and are unfamiliar with many local landmarks and may misrepresent some event that may have occurred.
6. Practice calming and relaxation methods
These practices can take many forms. Deep breathing, meditation, yoga, singing listening to or playing music. Others may prefer to simply take a walk. If you like animals, the simple ability to pet a cat or dog, groom a horse, or care for a bird has the added benefit of calming our heart rate. The more stressed we are the more rapid and shallow our breathing becomes.
7. Lend a hand
To accept help is difficult for many, but when the help is given by someone who is also in the midst of the experience, it becomes easier. The collective consciousness of the moment of giving and receiving is a Win-Win for all. To help out another is therapeutic unto itself.
Share Your let Go Moment
