Plant The Apple Seed of Hope in Our Darkest Hour
© Julie J. Murelle
In light of yesterday's unparalleled horror, I felt that a special edition of Relieving Stress would be appropriate.
If you are like me, when the news of this abomination started to come across your TV screen, it was meet with complete and utter shock. My mouth literally dropped to the floor and remained there for the better part of yesterday.
I was not only shocked and dismayed but I was also incredulous that someone could be so hateful and arrogant as to plan this thing to harm so many people who they did not even know. How dare this person or people take it upon them selves to give a death sentence to so many, simply out of hate and a longing for extreme power. I no longer felt safe. I kept my children close all day and hugged them every second that I could with our freaking them out. Images of gruesome war, destruction and pain ever vivid in my mind.
In times of extreme stress, it is very important to take the situation one day at a time, so as not to allow yourself to become overwhelmed. This is what I realized yesterday as I was bombarded with possible scenarios that could come from this act of war. I was like a deer in the headlights and my rear end actually formed an impression in the couch yesterday as I watched the day unfold, hence leading me to open my mind to all sorts of possible out comes to this.
So I come to you now, to share some ways to help you survive this extreme stress.
If you can, give yourself a break each day from the constant bombardment of the media, and even if it is only for five minutes, try to remember what is good in your life.
Empower yourself however you can. Say prayers if that is your inclination, keep a journal, donate blood and help out in anyway that you possibly can.
Share your feelings on this matter with family and friends. Stress and fear can be debilitating, if it is pent up inside. If you share your thoughts and feelings, it could free you up so you can think a little more calmly and clearly.
Try to acknowledge the situation, as it is today and function as best as you can within that reality based information, rather than wallowing in the horror of speculation and could be's that each one of us is capable of conjuring up. This reaction is rooted in fear and the need to protect ourselves and is a totally natural reaction. However, it probably serves to do more harm than good in the immediate survival of this tragedy.
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