A new mass shooting event tends to highlight the news every few days. These traumatic events can impact your mental health even if you or a loved one is not directly involved. You can do several things to stay healthy after a shooting event.
Take Care of Yourself First
If you have ever flown, the flight crew teaches you to put on your oxygen mask before assisting others. It is the same with your mental health. Be sure to practice the things that make you emotionally healthy after the event, including eating a balanced diet and getting enough sleep.
Give Yourself Time to Feel Your Emotions
It is natural to feel many emotions after a mass shooting event. Often, journaling about your feelings can help. Others find it helpful to play music. Exercising and gardening release feel-good hormones into your bloodstream. Others find it beneficial to do something positive for someone in memorial of those who died or were injured. Regardless of the emotion that you are feeling, ensure that you are present in the moment.
Seek Professional Help
If you have trouble coping, ensure you reach out to a professional. Furthermore, you should watch for signs in those close to you. If you feel someone is not coping well, offer to help them set up an appointment and come with them. Everyone needs to know that someone cares. If you have not heard from a friend for a while, ensure you reach out to them because some people tend to shut themselves off when feeling emotional stress.
Avoid Overexposure to Media
While it is vital to get news from a reliable source during an event where you are involved, after the event, limit the amount of content you consume, including social media. Constantly hearing bad news can get in the way of moving on with your life and healing emotionally.
Mass shootings can cause emotional turmoil far from the event. If you need help coping, please reach out to us. We are here to support you as you find a way to move forward.
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