Coping with civil unrest, war, and other conflict-related trauma
If we turn on the news, scroll through our social media feeds, or sometimes when we step outside, we see that individuals and communities, locally and globally, are struggling. As members of the DePaul community, we too, may belong to, identity with or may be deeply allied with groups who are experiencing profound traumas and losses. Many of us may be sitting with pain, grief and anger as we see these conflicts unfold. The uncertainty and instability of the times, can leave all of us, students, staff, and faculty feeling very unsure about the future, and can impact our levels of stress, anxiety and depression.
Here are some strategies that may be helpful in coping with civil unrest, war, and other conflict-related trauma:
- Understand that your feelings are normal: Common symptoms include overwhelming grief, sadness, worry, lack of energy, social withdrawal, excessive sleeping, anger, stomachaches and other physical and emotional symptoms.
- Maintain routines: To the best of your ability, balance the routines of your daily life; going to class, studying, keeping appointments, exercising and being in community with others with the need to take breaks, resting, or staying abreast of current affairs.
- Establish health-promoting boundaries: During these very stressful times, our typical capacities may be compromised and we may need to set firmer limits and boundaries with ourselves and others. You may need to take on less commitments or to be more mindful about over-extending yourself. It may also be important to limit the amount and type of social media and news we are consuming about the various conflicts to avoid further vicarious traumatization and overwhelm.
- Move & Take Care of Your Body: Stress, anxiety and trauma have a particularly potent impact on our bodies. You may notice muscle tension, tightness, elevated heart-rate or headaches for instance. Movement and exercise can help some of these intense emotions move through your body rather staying stagnant within you. Adequate sleep and nutrition are particularly important during these stressful times.
- Be in community: A sense of social connectedness and belonging are well-documented in the research are protective factors meaning that when we feel connected to other we are more resilient and less vulnerable to the impact of stress, anxiety and trauma.
- Feel empowered: Ask yourself that Vincentian question, “What must be done?” or “How can I make an impact or how can I take one step to feel less powerless?” This will look different for each of us and might include joining clubs/organizations that are working towards social change, attending workshops or getting more informed.
When to seek help:
Most symptoms of stress are short-term and don’t have a longer term impact on our functioning. However, if you feel that your symptoms won’t go away, and/or if they are impacting your ability to function in your personal or professional capacities, it may be helpful to speak with a professional.
If you feel like your ability to keep yourself or others safe is compromised, please call 911 or DePaul Public Safety at 773-325-7777 (Lincoln Park Campus) and 312-362-8400 (Loop Campus). The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline/Textline is also a resource by dialing or texting 988.
DePaul Students can seek support in the following ways:
Other Resources:
Schedule an appointment with University Counseling & Psychological Services