When violence occurs, such as the shootings at Virginia Tech, we feel great heartache
for those who have lost family and friends, those who were wounded, and those who
saw the tragic events unfold. It also leaves us with a heightened sense of vulnerability
and wondering about our own future. No one is left unaffected.
The following reactions are normal and natural even though they may seem unusual.
As individuals, we all respond in our own unique way. The incidents cannot be erased,
and the memory will always be a part of life. Everyone moves at his/her own pace through
the stages of crisis and healing.
|Disbelief and Shock
||Excessive use of alcohol or drugs
|Irritability and Anger
||Headaches and stomach problems
||Apathy & emotional numbing
|Crying for "no apparent reason"
||Low resistance to illness
|Difficulty making decisions or concentrating
||Inability to focus on school work or extra curricular activities
||Fear & anxiety about the future
|Excessive worry about safety and vulnerability; feeling powerless
||Changes in eating patterns: loss of appetite or overeating
|Loss of Trust
||Sadness and depression
||Replaying events in our minds
Tips for Coping
- Talk about it. Share your feelings with friends, classmates, faculty and family. Talking and listening
to others will help you realize that you are not alone in your feelings
- Limit media viewing. Take breaks.
- Take care of yourself. Get plenty of rest. Exercise. Eat right. Do things that you find relaxing such as
going to the movies or a coffee shop with friends, journaling, etc.
- Avoid excess: drinking, drugs and risk-taking activities. These activities can be a way to medicate
your feelings, but in the end will only add to or aggravate the problem
- Stay connected. You may find yourself wanting to isolate from others. Instead, make plans to visit
family and friends who can offer reassurance. If you can't visit, increase your contact
through emails and calls.
- Take action. Do something positive that will help you gain a greater sense of control. Get involved
in campus activities such as a candlelight vigil, benefits, group discussions, the
safety committee or other activities where you can make a difference.
- Resume routines. Routines are an important part of helping us get back to living and in healing.
- You may feel overwhelmed by the events that have occurred. Talk with a trusted friend,
family member or spiritual advisor.
- Use campus resources such as the health center and the counseling center or reach
out to community resources such as your local community mental health center, the
local mental health association or trusted faith leaders.
- A feeling of vulnerability may lead you to want to make major life decisions such
as dropping out of school, staying closer to family, getting married now because there
may not be enough time in the future, etc. Consider postponing such decisions until
you have had time to cope through the event and to talk to others about the decisions
to be made.
- If you have strong feelings that won't go away, or if intense reactions occur for
longer than four to six weeks, you may want to seek professional mental health assistance.
Consider obtaining professional assistance if you:
- Are unable to resume normal activities, studies, etc
- Feel depressed, or feelings of hopelessness or anger
- Are extremely anxious
- Continue to have the events dominate your thoughts
- Avoid people or places because they remind you of the event
- Suffer continued physical problems for which no organic cause can be found
- See your life falling apart with a loss of friendships, or problems with family or
at school or work
- Are overly reliant on alcohol or other drugs to block emotional pain
- Have thoughts of suicide or hurting others