Dr Jamieson:
I’ve been giving aid in the first weeks of some major disaster areas– Sri Lanka after the tsunami the first, Tacloban hurricane the most recent. I’m all too familiar with grief and and the struggle to combat stress.
The events in Paris have affected all of us. When we shocked by stress, trauma, or grief, we need somehow try to regain a balance in life. Aside from the obvious personal reasons, if we allow terrorist to disrupt and ruin our lives, then in the end of the day they have achieved their mission. So, how do we cope in this situation? Re-gaining balance in life means paying particular attention to our personal and emotional needs, something at which few of us are good.
This may mean that we need to be particular kind to ourselves, giving ourselves time to be with and communicate with friends and family. Also, we have to be gentle with ourselves in dropping expectations that we will be up to our 100% normal efficient state. It’s appropriate to take more time… at work or in home tasks. . Sometimes both the day-to-day activities in our lives, and our career ambitions can seem a little pointless in view of the desperate situation, however we need to know that this is a normal reaction and we need to tolerate it in ourselves. It’s well documented as part of the shock and grief reaction, and it does pass.
It’s appropriate to be sad at these times and remember that no one expects a cheerful facade. There is a natural grieving process that has to take place and quite simply takes time. What helps it is communicating our feelings with friends, family and perhaps a psychologist. The reason for this is that one grief can add on to other stresses and griefs we’ve experienced in our lives, such as divorce or death of a family member. This can then all become one huge over- whelming emotion that may then lead to serious anxiety or depression.
Quick Tips In Coping With Acute Trauma / Stress
- Take time to communicate your feelings with family, friends or professionals.
- Be gentle with yourself, and don’t expect yourself to be up to 100% efficiency.
- Give yourself extra treats such as extra tea breaks at work: massages; leaving work early to be with your family.
- This is the time to get together as a family and spend quality time together whether inside or outside the house
- Make a special effort to focus on what you have rather than what may be lost.
Signs That You May Need Help
Consider talking to a doctor, counsellor or psychologist if you are experiencing these symptoms:
- Feeling sufficiently overwhelmed and stressed that you cannot function at home or at work
- Losing appetite and beginning to lose weight
- Excessively tired all the time or very low energy levels such that you have to lie in bed all day sleeping
- Having recurrent guilty thoughts or not feeling good enough
- Feeling hopeless and worthless
- Crying all the time
Mindfulness
Mindfulness has been medically verified and proven to relieve stress, treat heart disease, lower blood pressure, reduce chronic pain, improve sleep, help migraines and alleviate digestive distress. It’s been shown to also improve psychological health, in the treatment of depression, couples conflict, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
In this one hour session held weekly, either 8am or 7pm Tuesdays, you will earn this proven technique. A nominal fee of $100 will be asked for, and booking by email required: info@drsusanjamieson.com
For more information: Eight Weeks to a Better Brain [Harvard Gazette, 2011]; Mindfulness: Learning to Live in the Moment [Mayo Clinic, 2013].
Dr Anne is an U.S. trained health psychologist and integrative psychotherapist with an extensive background in medical and natural healthcare. She has been utilizing mindfulness therapy in her practice since 1994, and has been in the healthcare field since 1980. More on Dr Anne Hilty.
Kinesiology
*First session will be complementary*
Sandra Cohen- Taieb (Certificate IV NK Institute, Australia): “Sometimes we must face different emotions such as anger, shock, incomprehension, guilt, and anxiety. A sense of isolation and helplessness can invade us. Every human being is unique and natural grieving process does not proceed in the same way for each of us. Some blockages may occur in the natural mechanisms we have to overcome psychological traumas, such as grief or stress.” Kinesiolgy is like acupuncture without the needles – an on-table session working with neuro-muscular reflexes to rebalance the body – mind system. More on Sandra Cohen- Taieb.
Counselling
Reshma Chugh (Counsellor, EMDR, PCPsych (HK), MCoun (Aus) aims to help you deal with and overcome issues that are causing emotional pain or making you feel uncomfortable. It can provide a safe and regular space for you to talk and explore difficult feelings. The counsellor is there to support you and respect your views. They won’t usually give advice, but will help you find your own insights into and understanding of your problems. Counselling can often involve talking about difficult or painful feelings and, as you begin to face them, you may feel worse in some ways. However, with the help and support of your therapist, you should gradually start to feel better. More on Reshma Chugh.
