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These simple steps can help you get back to a routine and
then make you feel much better. Soon you will be functioning as
you used to.
After going through a life
altering experience like the one you have gone through it is
normal to be effected emotionally.
You need to understand that:
-
These emotional reactions are normal responses to an
abnormal experience
-
The reactions are common and
experienced by everyone
-
Everybody who experiences a
disaster is touched by it
-
The reactions manifest
differently at different periods of time after the
earthquake.
WHAT WILL HELP YOU RECOVER FASTER?
-
Acceptance of the changes
-
Sharing your thoughts, feelings
and concerns with others
-
Get
support and Give support
-
Externalize your interests
Try and get back to routine as quickly as possible or
establish a new routine ..
-
Find time to relax
Like listening to music. Go for walks and spend
time just being at peace with yourself.
-
Choose positive lifestyles
It is important that you adopt a positive
lifestyle to rebuild your daily life. This means you need
to:
- Have adequate rest and sleep even during the day if you
feel like it
- Avoid smoking, avoid excessive tea/coffee
- Make sure that you eat your meals, specially your
breakfast
- Make time everyday to relax by gathering together at a
central place, reading, listening to music, performing
prayers.
-
Religious Practices
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SOME STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO HELP YOUR FAMILY TO RECOVER
-
Be together as a family. Do not send women, children
etc., to other places for safety as the separation can cause
anxiety to them and to you.
-
These simple steps can help you get back to a routine and then make you feel much better. Soon you will be functioning as you used to.
Take time to sit together and share the experience of
losses.
-
Touch and comfort your parents, children, spouse, etc. It
will make you as well as the other person feel good.
-
It is a good idea to contact other relatives. It will
help you to feel strengthened. If you have lost a family member
then participate in rituals like prayers, placing the dead
persons photographs in front of you, etc.
-
Make time for family recreation
using what is available like the radio, television, visiting
religious places, playing with children and engaging in
sewing.
-
Resume normal activities of the pre-disaster
days with the family. Restart activities that are special to
your family like having meals together, praying, playing
games, etc. All this will help get a sense of normalcy back
to your life.
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CHILDREN IN THE FAMILY NEED SPECIAL ATTENTION
They can show behaviour like irritability, anger, fights, lying,
disobedience, etc., which would all be ways of showing their
anger at what has happened. You have to take measures to
increase feelings of security and bonding. You need to
understand that these changes are ‘normal’ for the situation and
take measures to help the child get over his/her stress. Some
things you can do are:
-
Re-establishing routines like eating, sleeping, going to
school
-
Giving security by actions like touching, hugging,
reassuring them verbally
-
Allowing them to talk about the event and listen to them
without giving any advice
-
Encouraging them to play or offering opportunities for
painting and drawing where they can express their emotions.
This is very healing
-
Story telling, and games involving physical movement are
other things that will help them feel better
-
Giving lots of praise and love to them Pay more attention
and spend time on their studies once they return to school.
For more information contact:WHO,
email:
saeedsh1993@yahoo.co.uk
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