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Many college students, faced with the war
on Iraq and the ongoing threat of terrorist attacks, find that they now
feel uncertain about a future for which they had just begun to plan.
Some may be concerned about parents, relatives or friends in the military
or who are living overseas. Others may wonder how they, themselves,
may become directly involved in this crisis. No one is unaffected.
Whether you are directly or indirectly impacted,
it is important to know that each person reacts differently to crisis,
and it is common and expected to experience a range of responses.
Emotional responses can appear immediately or sometimes develop months
later. Students who live away from home may have a more difficult
time coping without the reassurance of having family nearby.
Understanding how you feel
and taking positive steps to address those feelings can help you cope.
Remember that, while things may never be quite the same again, they will
get better and you will feel better.
Common Responses to Crisis
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Disbelief and shock
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Disorientation; difficulty
making decisions or concentrating
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Inability to focus on
schoolwork and extracurricular activities
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Apathy and emotional
numbing
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Sadness and depression
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Fear and anxiety about
the future
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Intrusive thoughts;
replaying events in our minds
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Excessive worry about
safety and vulnerability; feeling powerless
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Crying for “no apparent
reason”
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Irritability and anger
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Headaches and stomach
problems
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Difficulty sleeping
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Extreme changes in eating
patterns; loss of appetite or overeating
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Excessive use of alcohol
or drugs
Tips for Coping
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Talk about it.
Encourage others to share their perspectives. Sharing your feelings
with friends, classmates, professors, advisors and family will help
you work through your emotions. Talking with others will relieve
stress and help you realize that you’re not alone with your feelings.
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Take care of yourself.
Get plenty of rest and exercise.
Do things that you find relaxing and soothing. Remember to eat
nutritious foods. Limit your exposure to media reports and images
of the war. Avoid excessive drinking and risk-taking activities.
Try to maintain your usual routines.
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Stay connected.
Maintain contact with friends
and family. Make plans to visit family or others who can offer
reassurance. If you can’t visit them in person, increase your
contact through phone calls and e-mails.
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Do
something positive. Do
something that will help you gain a greater sense of control (for
example, give blood, take a First Aid class, collect donations for
“care packages” for people in the military or write letters
to service men and women). Whether you support or oppose the
war, you can write letters to elected officials or get involved in
campus activities, such as a candlelight vigil, benefit, discussion
group or special lecture.
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Ask for help.
If you feel overwhelmed by
events, remember that it’s not a sign of weakness. Talk with
a trusted friend, family member or spiritual advisor. Use on-campus
resources, such as the college counseling center and health center,
or reach out to community resources, such as faith leaders or the
local mental health association.
If you have strong feelings that won’t go
away, or if you’re troubled for longer than four to six weeks, you may
want to seek professional help. Being unable to manage your responses
to a crisis and to resume your regular activities may be a symptom of
depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder. People who
have existing mental health problems and those with a history of trauma
may want to check in with a mental health care professional. Help
is available. You don’t have to deal with this alone.Mental Health America
(MHA) has resources to help you
cope, including fact sheets on post-traumatic stress disorder, depression,
coping with loss and other issues. Visit their Website at www.nmha.org
or call our toll-free line at 800-969-NMHA.
For additional information, visit the following Websites:
American College Counseling Association –
www.collegecounseling.org
American College Health Association –
www.acha.org
American College Personnel Association –
www.acpa.nche.edu
Anxiety Disorders Association of America –
www.adaa.org
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug
Information –
www.health.org
National Institute of Mental Health –
www.nimh.org
National Pan-Hellenic Conference –
www.npcwomen.org
The BACCUS and GAMMA Peer Education Network
–
www.bacchusgamma.org
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