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WH AT C A N I D O ?
W
hile it is logical to think that in these
situations there is nothing we can do,
our way of acting can ease the assimi-
lation process of what happened, and help our su-
ffering evolve positively, as well as prevent future
problems and pain from appearing. Here are some
general suggestions on how to act to facilitate your
recovery process. Later on, we will address the need
of leaning on others, as well as simple self-help te-
chniques that you can use to reduce your sense of
unease and gradually move on with your life.
General guidelines to facilitate your recovery
process:
•
Embrace the fact that you feel bad, even terrible,
due to the situation. Unease and other negative
emotions must be accepted as a normal part of
people's lives, especially in situations like these.
•
Try not to seek logical explanations for what ha-
ppened, as it’s quite likely that you will not find
any. These tragedies don't happen for logical re-
asons.
•
Take all the time you need to mourn, if you need
to. It is a good thing to let those feelings out, ins-
tead of trying to contain or hide them. But don't
force yourself into it. Sometimes, people need
some time to be able to cry or feel discomfort.
Remember there are many ways to deal with
these situations.
•
Try to go back as soon as possible to your daily
routines, obligations, house chores, and going out
with people. If you find it hard at the beginning,
create a plan and force yourself to follow it from
the start.
•
Try to gradually deal with places, situations, peo-
ple and thoughts that remind you of what happe-
ned, and work as hard as you can to do so, even if
this means going through hard times at first.
•
Try to set achievable goals for each day and com-
mit to them. Give them the importance that they
deserve, and celebrate every time you fulfill them.
- Try to rest and sleep enough, in situations like this it
is necessary to sleep more time than we usually do.
•
Do something that makes you feel a bit better: a
warm bath, listening to music, sunbathing, playing
with your kids, going out with friends or playing
with your dog. Try to feel your best in the way that
better suits you.
•
Try to realize that it’s fine to feel negative and
positive emotions at the same time. Negative
and positive feelings can coexist on a day-to-day
basis, after this kind of situations. You may burn
with hatred towards those who committed the at-
tack, and at the same time feel affection for the
people who are with you.
•
Do something to feel useful in helping people as
affected, or even more affected than you: donate
blood, give money, take part in protests and show
your solidarity to those who suffered the situa-
tion.