This blog is designed to help cope with the traumatic events. You may wish to consider the suggestions below:

In Our Homes:

• If you have children, consider limiting their exposure to television coverage. Honestly and openly answer any questions children may have. Younger children will have difficulty understanding what they see.

• If children have seen the traumatic scenes on TV, process with them what they saw. Safety will be a primary concern for children. Reassure them that adults are working hard to make our society safe.

• Younger children may want to draw pictures or use play to express their feelings.

• Process with your children and other adults in the home how your feel about a terrorist tragedy. Share your feelings (i.e., sadness, shock, disbelief, and anger).

• During this traumatic time, kids will be looking to adults and especially those who are primary care takers (i.e., parents) to help them understand how to cope with their feelings. It is time to show how or be a positive role model on how to handle living with a terrorist crisis.

KEEP TO YOUR DAILY SCHEDULE AND ROUTINES.
Predictability is soothing. Go to work, school, and after-school programs.

In Our Community:

• Support your neighbors and friends. TALK to one another. Talking helps us digest painful feelings.

• Share with one another what you have seen and how you feel.

• FEEL WHAT YOU FEEL. At times we may feel sadness; at others, anger, and at other times, numbness. This is normal. How we deal with these feelings is important.

• Under stress, we all regress. Slow down and give yourself time to digest what has happened.

• We all may have fantasies of revenge. Turn this form of coping, this energy, into positive actions. Donate blood. Give money to the Red Cross. Donate to the food bank. Encourage others to do so as well. Children may wish to donate this week’s allowance to the Red Cross. Help them to feel they have helped during this crisis.

• It is time to pull together, demonstrate patience, and to help each other in need. Absorbing what has happened to us is a long-term ordeal.

• Be mindful. Avoid blaming people who may be associated with a particular religious or ethnic group. It is time to come together as a community- not to play a role in dividing our community.

• Lean on your supports. For example, go to your church, your synagogue, or your mosque.

• Temper your actions with wisdom. Let’s all stay calm and not react with impulsive anger towards any group or persons. We are in this for the long haul- let’s take the time to figure out how we feel and what our actions should be.

And of course, if you found this helpful, please feel free to post/share this blog. Dr. Steven Atkins