Hi,
My name is Diane Rehfield. My husband Mark and I just moved to NC 2 months ago, and were delighted to find FPCA. I am a retired pastor and a licensed therapist in California, but not here, so take anything I say as friendly, but not professional advice.
We have all been through a traumatic event. For many, the trauma is continuing. Recognize that none of us are functioning as well as we otherwise would be. Many of us can be brave and steady for days on end, but eventually all of us need to release stress somehow.
Everyone reacts a little differently, but some of the symptoms of living in the midst of a crisis are:
Thinking you are doing fine and then bursting in to tears for “almost no reason.”
Sleeping way more than usual.
Not sleeping well at all.
Wanting to eat much more than usual.
Having no appetite.
Having a sense of free floating anxiety. You have your basic needs covered, and can’t quite understand why you feel so anxious.
Depression.
Being more short tempered than usual and getting angry at things that normally wouldn’t bother you at all.
Being desperate to control minor things, because major things feel so out of control.
All of these are normal responses to experiencing a traumatic event. Some things you can do to help yourself:
Get outside. Natural daylight has a big effect on regulating our physical and emotional systems. Dimly lit rooms feed depression.
Take a walk. Physical exercise helps to rid your body of stress hormones.
Cry when you feel like it. Stress hormones have been shown to exit the body through tears.
Help somebody else. Neighbors pooling resources solves practical problems, but also lifts moods when you know you helped another.
Establish routines. So much of what we normally do is different now. Eating, sleeping, and exercising at regular times helps.
Talk to other people. Share your stories. Talking about how it was for you can relieve some of the stress.
Now that stores have opened, try to eat meals that are healthy and feel as “normal” to you as possible.
Come to church! Many of us are using the internet and charging here, so there are people to talk to everyday.
Diane