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H OW C A N I
P R O V I D E S U P P O R T ?
S
ometimes it is hard for us to offer our su-
pport, we don't know whether it's best to
approach someone or not, to call someone
close on the phone to find out how they are doing.
We don't want to force those affected to meet us, but
we want to help should they need us: How should I
act? We hope that you find these guidelines useful:
•
If you wish to provide support to people affected
that are close to you, don’t hesitate to contact them
and offer it to them. Don't expect them to call, you
do that, and ask them what you can do for them:
give them specific examples of chores that they
may not be able to do (for instance, calling other
people, preparing food, picking up their children
after school...) State clearly that you look forward
to sharing moments with them, and having the sa-
tisfaction of being with them and being of help.
•
If you wish to offer effective support to people
affected by the attack who are close to you, make
sure to keep in touch with them. At the beginning,
many people show up to give support, but as time
goes by, victims risk losing such support when they
need it the most.
•
When offering support, try to show affection, let
people see in your eyes the sincere nature of the
help you are offering, don’t let them think you see
it as an obligation. Don’t be afraid to “bother” your
relatives or friends. Offer to do anything you deem
appropriate, but allow them to say “no”.
•
If you wish to offer your support to people who
have been affected but with whom you don’t have
any previous relationship, you may follow the same
guidelines in terms of offering support and asking
them to tell you what to do for them, but it is im-
portant to be more careful and respect their right
to intimacy. Consider that they may feel “overrun”
if you treat them in a way that they deem inappro-
priate, given your relationship.
•
When trying to provide support to people who have
been directly affected by an attack, remember that,
except expressly stated by them, they should be
able to decide over the things that affect them. You
need to ask their opinion and know their needs.
The best possible support offers and provides pos-
sibilities, creates solutions, but is not overwhel-
ming or takes away control of the situation from
those who wish to maintain it.
HOW CAN I CONTROL
THIS SENSE OF UNEASE?
T
he feeling of discomfort that appears after
suffering an attack is characterized by exces-
sive tension and a prolonged state of anxiety.
Below you will find some simple guidelines on how to
reduce such discomfort and its possibility to appear.
Breathe well to reduce tension
The excessive stress and alertness generated by an
attack can cause people to breathe shallowly, at an
accelerated pace. This makes the amount of air rea-
ching the lungs insufficient, and prevents blood from