What a sad time for our kids to be living in. School shootings are becoming an all too common occurrence in the United States. Within this last decade alone, at least 300 school shootings averaging somewhere between one and 1.5 per week. The most recent school shooting to happen was the one in Santa Fe High School in Texas during the week of the 18th of May. Ten members of the school were killed during the events perpetrated by one Dimitrios Pagourtzis. Thankfully, the perpetrator was apprehended and is being detained until further notice. But, while the shooting is over, the aftermath is far from finished.
School shootings have long term consequences for everyone involved regardless of their location. Parents lost children, children lost friends, friends lost school mates, and trust in the community has been jeopardized. After all, if you can’t trust those people in the community, who can you trust? Yet, these aren’t the only aftereffects; some will experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, survivors’ guilt, and others will experience secondary, but no less important symptoms. What is truly important is keeping in mind that there is help available and we have some tips that could assist you on the road to healing.
Don’t be Ashamed to Seek Help
There is no shame in seeking the help of an outside entity when dealing with a traumatic event. School counselors, psychologist, and other types of counselors exist to help in coping with situations like a school shooting. If you feel like life or memories of the event are overwhelming you, don’t be afraid to ask your friends, and family for additional support from trained professionals. There is a stigma attached to mental illness in the United States, but don’t fall for it. By seeking help you’re actually demonstrating a willingness to improve your current condition and your mental health will benefit tremendously from it.
Find a Support Group or Start One
While there are those who will try to minimize your condition, don’t listen to them. Try to find a support group of individuals who have experienced or seen similar situations. If you can’t find one, try starting one with fellow survivors of the event, by forming a support chain, you’ll be providing support not only for yourself, but for your peers and family members of the affected. At times like these, bonding with the community around you can help mend wounds. These types of groups should offer not only help with opening up about the situation, but can also provide distractions during difficult times.
Care for your Body and Soul
One tip that counselors will always remind a patient to accomplish is taking care of the self. By eating properly, exercising regularly, and most importantly, getting enough sleep, your mind will function at top capacity. These activities can help in coping with stress and relaxing the mind and will also ensure you’re staying fit. Avoid any harmful activities during this time, drinking alcohol, gambling, and overeating will hurt you in the long-run.
Avoid the News or Social Media
One key factor in dealing with these situations is avoiding exposure. By watching the news, or participating in social media, you’re almost guaranteed to be reminded of the situation and potentially trigger painful memories of the event. Certainly, you can use social media to stay in contact with friends and family, but avoid the news feed and keep the conversations flowing at your pace. Don’t let others overwhelm you, and remember that online trolls will actively try to get a rise out of people.
Parents Remember You Are an Example
Children will always look to their parents as an example of what to do in emergencies. But, parents don’t always remember that their example is demonstrated in a multitude of ways and their children are watching. Ensure that you as a parent are taking care of yourself; demonstrate stability and security, but also honesty and a genuine expression of what you’re feeling. By demonstrating to the children how, to cope with a situation like this, you’ll ensure they feel safe in the home environment.
Family Bonding
There is no doubt, that family is the most important aspect to keep in mind during these events. Your family will all be experiencing similar feelings and ideas, as such, it’s important to remind each other of how important you are to each other. Be gentle, understanding, and most importantly tactful around them because each person will experience it slightly different. But, you’re all in this together and by keeping that in mind, you can help each other cope.
Years ago, the American people could not imagine they would have an epidemic of school shootings in their hands. In those days, the fears and concerns were terrorist overseas, not teenagers with weapons. But, this day and age, we have to be prepared for anything. Everyone has to be open for help, and the possibility of being affected by PTSD. Finding others who are experiencing a similar situation to you will assist in finding a sense of community with others. By keeping yourself active and healthy you’ll ensure that your body and mind are prepared for anything, but that doesn’t mean you should expose yourself to everything. Parents on the other hand, have to keep in mind the importance of setting a good example for kids, and the families have to stick together during their times of need. By following these tips, you’ll improve your chances of dealing with a similar situation if the need ever arises.
