Coping with a Stressful Coping with a Stressful EventEvent

What's Going On?What's Going On?

There are many events that can be categorised as There are many events that can be categorised as stressful. stressful.

Examples of these are being involved in or Examples of these are being involved in or witnessing an accident, being a victim of or witnessing an accident, being a victim of or witnessing abuse or violence, or losing someone witnessing abuse or violence, or losing someone close to you.close to you.

Any stressful event can have an influence on how Any stressful event can have an influence on how

you feel emotionally.you feel emotionally.

After a Stressful EventAfter a Stressful Event

It is normal to feel some stress, anxiety, It is normal to feel some stress, anxiety, sadness or to be afraid and it can take time sadness or to be afraid and it can take time for you to adjust to a lifestyle you are for you to adjust to a lifestyle you are comfortable with again.comfortable with again.

If your experience causes you If your experience causes you to:to:

have flashbacks of the have flashbacks of the eventevent

have bad dreamshave bad dreams lose your appetitelose your appetite lack sleeplack sleep become distant from day become distant from day

to day activitiesto day activities you may want to consult you may want to consult

your doctor or a your doctor or a counsellorcounsellor

What Can I Do?What Can I Do?

It is important that It is important that you deal with the you deal with the feelings and feelings and reactions you are reactions you are having so that they having so that they don't become don't become overwhelming. overwhelming.

Here are some tips Here are some tips that may be helpfulthat may be helpful

Scream!Scream!

One way of letting go One way of letting go of your feelings is to of your feelings is to ScreamScream

That all depends on That all depends on where you arewhere you are

I would go out onto I would go out onto my balcony and just my balcony and just scream at the top of scream at the top of my lungsmy lungs

Draw it!Draw it!

This is an another This is an another way of letting go of way of letting go of your feelings. your feelings.

Here you can draw a Here you can draw a picture or image, picture or image, which may help to which may help to express what is express what is going on for you.going on for you.

Keeping a DiaryKeeping a Diary

It may help to keep a diary where you can write It may help to keep a diary where you can write down your feelings, as well as anything else that down your feelings, as well as anything else that you wish to write about. you wish to write about.

Talking to SomeoneTalking to Someone

Sometimes bottling your thoughts inside you can Sometimes bottling your thoughts inside you can make the reactions worse.make the reactions worse.

It may be helpful to talk to a friend or family It may be helpful to talk to a friend or family

member about the event and what you are member about the event and what you are feeling. feeling.

It may also be helpful for you to share your It may also be helpful for you to share your feelings with someone who was involved in the feelings with someone who was involved in the event.event.

Seeking HelpSeeking Help Your local doctor, clinical psychologist, Your local doctor, clinical psychologist,

counsellor or youth worker will be able counsellor or youth worker will be able to help you with strategies to cope to help you with strategies to cope with your feelings and reactions.with your feelings and reactions.

If things are really bad then they can If things are really bad then they can

give you medication, which will assist give you medication, which will assist in calming you.in calming you.

Getting HelpGetting Help

Your local doctor Your local doctor will be listed in the will be listed in the white pages - they white pages - they can give you a can give you a referral to a referral to a psychologist or a psychologist or a psychiatrist. psychiatrist.