If You're Struggling, Here Are Some Mental Health Reminders That Might Help Right Now

Oct 03, 2018 by apost team

Today marks one year since the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. On October 1, 2017, a gunman opened fire from a Las Vegas hotel balcony on an outdoor concert. The man killed 58 people and injured more than 800 others before turning the gun on himself.

As we honor the lives of the victims this week, the commemoration is also a significant reminder of the importance of mental health in all of our lives.

Witnessing tragedies, even from afar, can significantly affect our emotions. Sometimes, just turning on the news can be overwhelming for certain people. Meanwhile, there are others who wrestle with various feelings of both powerlessness and the overwhelming desire or need to reach out to victims. Balancing all of these emotions can become quite a daunting task. So here are a few tips to keep in mind, that could help protect your mental health.

apost.com

Self-care is not a “one size fits all” routine. Different people have varying methods that they utilize to feel better. Turning off the television and putting down the cell phone may be enough for some. Others may find an extra-long nap beneficial. Yet for others, it may take a trip to the gym to improve their mood. You have to know what works for you. But knowing is only half of the battle. You must then apply the method to your daily routine.

Past experiences often affect how we respond to different tragedies. A person who has gone through a crisis may have a tougher time dealing with news of a tragic event. In fact, hearing heart-breaking stories can often trigger raw emotions. This could not only be stressful on the mind but the body as well. These triggers could even lead to panic attacks.

If you don’t fall into that category, you should still be mindful of others. Simply bringing up a tragic situation could be detrimental to the mental health of someone familiar with similar pain.

Don’t discount your feelings. It’s very common to have a range of emotions, including anger, hopelessness, and sadness. Many people feel guilty because of those emotions, primarily when a tragic event didn’t directly affect them. But know that your reaction is natural. Be sure to embrace those feelings as they happen and not try to suppress them.

We live in a world of information overload. We are continually updated with what’s going on in the world through our cell phones and 24-hour news cycles on television. It is not only okay to unplug after a terrible event. It’s mentally beneficial. In this case, the less you surround yourself with negative information, the better you’ll feel.

Instead of staying tuned in to that 24/7 news channel, catch your 30-minute local news in its place. Set a time and place for your news consumption. And here’s a suggestion: your bedroom should be off limits. Skim over the headlines instead of reading entire articles. This helps you stay informed without being fully immersed. Lastly, take care of yourself throughout the process. Don’t allow your news intake to replace necessary survival tasks such as eating and getting enough sleep at night.

Try not to get overly concerned if, after a tragedy, you feel numb. Do not chalk it up to you being insensitive. Often, feeling emotionless is your body’s way of protecting the mind. Keeping neutral thoughts prevents the brain from becoming overwhelmed. So remember, you’re not a cold-hearted person. Your body is just in survival mode.

It is natural for some people to instantly spring into action, reaching out to victims following a tragedy. They run to the blood banks, open up crowdfunding accounts and donate items, nearly immediately. And while you may want to help, it could be too soon for you to get started. You must be up for it both physically and mentally. Because if you’re not in the best shape or state of mind, you’d be doing a disservice to those in need.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve never experienced a tragedy first-hand. Sometimes traumatic events will still trigger reactions and feelings that you didn’t know existed. Part of this is because we’ve experienced several mass shootings and other catastrophic events in recent years. Our news access is also evolving with information available at our fingertips. So the more we hear about these events, the greater and more emotional our responses become.

No matter how you deal with your emotions, be confident in knowing your reaction is warranted. There’s a reason we all respond to tragedies in different ways. Don’t expect your response to be similar to that of your neighbor. We were all uniquely designed. We also draw from our own life experiences.

There are multiple resources available to help you deal with tragedies. If you need to talk to a professional, call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUS to 66746.

If you know someone who could benefit from these tips, please pass this article along. We’d also love to hear from you. What other mental health advice would you add to this list?

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!