Next week we will have another great post from our student contributor Samantha Ege but this week I wanted to address an important issue. It seems as though every day when we turn on the news another tragedy has happened. There are shootings, terrorist attacks, violent crimes, racial issues, and even the election can cause stress for some of us. Just last night I was listening to the debate and listening to Donald Trump discuss the many shootings in Chicago, I felt worried. Many of my clients spend time during their therapy appointments discussing how the stressful things on the news affect them. Many of my friends who have children worry out loud about how these traumatic events will impact their children.
The reason why I wanted to bring this up in the PSYowa blog was to remind everyone that traumas don't have to happen to us or near us to affect us. People can experience psychological distress because of world events and stressful things that they see happen on the news. Even the election for some people may be a source of emotional distress or discomfort. Some signs of psychological distress to look for include:
- Emotions that are more intense then usual
- Mood swings that are out of the ordinary
- Erratic changes in your behavior
- Greater than normal sensitivity
- Difficulties in relationships
- Increased feelings of anxiety or worry
- Physical stress symptoms like stomach ache, head ache, or muscle tension
It is important that if you are experiencing significant distress that you practice self care and seek support when you need it. Some things you can do to practice self-care include:
- Spending time with loved ones
- Physical activity such as recreational sports or exercise
- Talking with others about what is happening
- Taking a "break" from news
- Doing a volunteer activity or giving back to the community
- Doing something fun like visiting a museum or going to a movie
If self-care doesn't seem to reduce your distress and any of your symptoms do not improve or get worse you may consider contacting a psychologist to discuss your concerns. The world can be a stressful place at times but there still are many wonderful things to focus on including making it a better place!
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