Managing stress, keeping the routine

It is not unusual for people to experience extreme reactions during and immediately after catastrophic events. Most people experience some combination of physical, cognitive and emotional distress. \nPhysical reactions may include fatigue, sleep disturbance, crying, nightmares, hyper-activity, startled reactions and headaches. Cognitive reactions may include difficulties with concentration, problem solving, memory, decision making, flashbacks to other traumatic events and an inability to attach importance to thoughts of anything else. Emotional reactions may include fear, emotional numbing, anxiety, depression and feelings of guilt, anger, helplessness and loss of control. These reactions are normal responses to abnormal events.\nManaging everyday stress is very important at this time of stress overload. Take care of yourself. Sleep and eat regularly, exercise, limit caffeine and alcohol consumption. Find a way to relax even for a short time every day. Spend time with people who support you. Talk about things that affect you; listen to your friends; ask for help when you need it. Slow down internally. Do one thing at a time. Concentrate on the present. Alter your daily schedule so that you start the day in a leisurely manner rather than rushing. \nReview your daily activities. Shed non-critical tasks. Prioritize. Extreme stress related to the catastrophic event can be countered in a number of ways. Deliberately limit the time you attend to media accounts. Keep your life as normal as possible. Structure your time; keep busy.\nDon't label yourself as "crazy" or scare yourself by thinking you will not get past this. Do give yourself permission to be deeply distressed. Reach out to people who can be a support for you and offer to be a support for them.\nRemember that people react to stress in different ways and avoid being judgmental of those who react differently from you. Don't make big life changes.\nMany of us are still in shock. All of us will slowly begin the process of emotional healing. We should not expect to forget this trauma, but we should expect to gradually return to the priorities of our daily lives.\nWhen your reactions trouble you or when they restrict your ability to return to daily activities, students may want to consult a counselor. Counselors at Counseling and Psychological Services are available on a walk-in basis Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For other services, call 855-5711 or log on to our Web site at www.indiana.edu/~caps. CAPS is located on the fourth floor of the IU Health Center.