7 Tips for Dealing with the Trauma of School Violence

The nation has been horrified to hear about another mass shooting this week. For many in South Florida, however, the trauma surrounding school violence has hit particularly hard because it happened right in our own backyard. Many people likely know someone or know of a family with a child who attends the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. Because of this, you might find it challenging to deal with your feelings about the event. Keep in mind that it is normal to experience strong emotions, such as anger, fear, sadness, grief, and shock – even if you don’t know someone who is personally connected to the shooting. You might also have trouble sleeping or concentrating and you may even feel numb when discussing the incident with others. All of these reactions are typical responses of trauma psychology.

Tips for Overcoming Trauma after School Violence

It will take a while to move past this heartbreaking tragedy, but we have some tips for managing your emotions during this horrific time. Following these guidelines can help you build resilience – the inner strength that you can draw on when you’re exposed to trauma or adversity.

• Don’t suppress your feelings. Everyone processes a stressful situation in different ways. Give yourself time to mourn the tragedy and remember that working through grief takes a long time. Don’t try to rush it. If you have a more intense reaction than you feel you should, talk to others or to a mental health professional.
• Take care of yourself. It’s harder to work through strong emotions when you are tired or not eating well. Try to eat a balanced diet and get plenty of rest. Set aside some time during the day to get some physical exercise, which has been proven to reduce stress. Also, try to avoid using alcohol or drugs to deal with your reactions – studies show they intensify negative emotions and can suppress your feelings, making it tougher for you to deal with your emotional pain.
• Turn off the news coverage of the event. Overexposing yourself to the anxiety and raw emotions of this community violence by watching endless replays on the news or by reading numerous reports on the internet can increase your stress. In particular, images of the school violence can trigger new anxiety or prolong episodes of distress about the event. Try to focus on something positive to help raise your optimism, which will, in turn, help you feel more encouraged.
• Maintain a routine. Patterns can provide a sense of comfort and security when your world has upended.
• Talk about it with others. By doing so, you give yourself permission to mourn. Additionally, sharing your shock and distress makes you feel more supported, less alone, and less overwhelmed.
• Help others. Being of service to someone distracts you from your own problems, plus it boosts serotonin levels, which will help you feel more positive.
• If you and your family or friends have been directly impacted by this mass shooting, you will experience some form of grief. You may experience survivor’s guilt because you have lived and your loved one did not. You may feel alone and want to avoid others. Grief is unpredictable – it can seem to lessen, then reappear when you least expect it. Milestones, such as birthday or holidays, will often trigger a fresh round of mourning. Understand that this is part of grief and grieving is a long process.

If you find you can’t move past this school violence or another traumatic event that has happened in your life, it may be beneficial to seek out a support group or turn to a qualified, licensed mental health professional in order to move forward. It is especially important to do so if you are unable to carry out the daily tasks of living, such as sleeping, eating, and other functions.

Our Trauma Professionals Can Help

The Center for Anxiety and Mood Disorder’s Trauma Center has specially trained clinicians on staff to help those who are grieving or who have gone through traumatic situations. For more information, contact us or call us today at 561-496-1094.