• Difficulty focusing or concentrating
• Recurring thoughts, dreams or flashbacks to other traumatic events
• Sleeplessness or fatigue
• Change in appetite; upset stomach
• Crying
• Irritability
• Anger
• Grief
• Feelings of guilt
• Quick temper
• Headache
• Alcohol or other drug use
If you are experiencing any of these reactions, take care of yourself . You can:
• Take several slow, deep breaths to alleviate the feelings of anxiety
• Talk about what is happening
• Talk about your feelings with friends and loved ones
• Create a daily routine so you feel in control
• Eat balanced meals, even if you're not hungry, so your body has the energy to deal
with stress
• Take time to let your body relax and recover
• Cry when you need to
• Let anger out by beating on a pillow or doing a safe, exhausting physical activity
• Exercise
• Avoid the use of alcohol and other drugs and limit caffeine intake
• Seek help by calling the EAP
If you want further information on how to deal with your emotions or how to cope during a tragedy, please go to the following links:
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/coping-with-disaster - from SAMSA, tips for talking about disasters for teachers, children and adolescents, parents and families. Also available in Spanish.
http://mentalhealth.about.com/library/crisis/bltips.htm - links to articles about managing mental health in times of crisis. Articles are grouped as follows: for children and adolescents, for adults, for emergency and disaster response workers. Also available in Spanish.
http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/info/emergency/resources/mentalhealth/ - a list of helpful links posted on the MCPS web site.
The MCPS Employee Assistance Program is a confidential counseling service staffed by mental health professionals. If you need to talk, have questions, or want information, you may call our office at 240-314-1040 or send an Outlook message to Debra Tipton, Jeffrey Becker, or Robyn Rosenbauer.
Updated April 17, 2007 | Maintained by Debra Tipton
