Coping with a Stressful EventCoping with a Stressful Event

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

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

feel emotionally.feel emotionally.

After a Stressful EventAfter a Stressful Event

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

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

have flashbacks of the eventhave flashbacks of the event have bad dreamshave bad dreams lose your appetitelose your appetite lack sleeplack sleep become distant from day to become distant from day to

day activitiesday activities you may want to consult you may want to consult

your doctor or a counselloryour doctor or a counsellor

What Can I Do?What Can I Do?

It is important that you It is important that you deal with the feelings deal with the feelings and reactions you are and 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 way This is an another way of letting go of your of letting go of your feelings. feelings.

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

Keeping a DiaryKeeping a Diary

It may help to keep a diary where you can write down It may help to keep a diary where you can write down your feelings, as well as anything else that you wish to your feelings, as well as anything else that you wish to write about. 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 member It may be helpful to talk to a friend or family member

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

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

Seeking HelpSeeking Help

Your local doctor, clinical psychologist, Your local doctor, clinical psychologist, counsellor or youth worker will be able to counsellor or youth worker will be able to help you with strategies to cope with your help you with strategies to cope with your feelings and reactions.feelings and reactions.

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

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

Getting HelpGetting Help

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