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Trauma

  • Difficulty focusing or concentrating
  • Recurring thoughts, dreams, or flashbacks to other traumatic events
  • Sleeplessness or fatigue
  • Change in appetite; upset stomach
  • Crying
  • Irritability
  • Anger
  • Grief
  • Feelings of guilt
  • Quick temper
  • Headache
  • Alcohol or other drug use

If you are experiencing any of these reactions, take care of yourself by doing some of the following:

  • Take several slow, deep breaths to alleviate the feelings of anxiety
  • Talk about what is happening
  • Talk about your feelings with friends and loved ones
  • Create a daily routine to help you feel in control
  • Eat balanced meals, even if you're not hungry, so you have the energy to cope with stress
  • Take time to let your body relax and recover
  • Cry when you need to
  • Let anger out by beating on a pillow or doing a safe, exhausting physical activity
  • Exercise
  • Avoid the use of alcohol and other drugs and limit caffeine intake
  • Seek help by calling the EAP

If you want further information on how to deal with your emotions or how to cope during a tragedy, please go to the following links:

http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/- Information about coping with natural disasters. Many other topics of interest on the site.

http://mentalhealth.about.com/library/crisis/bltips.htm - links to articles about managing mental health in times of crisis. Articles are grouped as follows: for children and adolescents, for adults, for emergency and disaster response workers. Also available in Spanish.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/studentservices- information related to the MCPS crisis response. Includes links to other Montgomery County resources.

The MCPS Employee Assistance Program offers no-cost and confidential counseling (up to eight sessions). If you need to talk, have questions, or want information, you may call our office at 240-740-6500.