Moving Through The Attack on America
10 Coping Tips to Help You - Now!

Life is very unsettled right now. From a therapist's point of view, I believe what is most unsettling is the fear factor. What is going to happen? Will our lives ever be the same again? Am I safe? And, of course, what about the families of the dead and wounded? How will we get through all this?

Like everyone else, I have watched the news each day, seeing the images and hearing more and more bad news. Then, last night I saw a piece on the impact this had on the world. There were ceremonies and minutes of silence all over the world yesterday. They showed clips from London, Moscow, Berlin, Nairobi, Australia, Italy, South America, of people praying, lighting candles, essentially grieving for our dead and wounded. I was touched in a way that gave me hope and faith that everything will be ok.

In the past few days, prior to this piece, when I was shocked or saddened or moved to tears, it was because of outrage at the incredible event. This was different. It was like having all your friends and loved ones attend a funeral with you to honor your recently deceased loved one. It was healing knowing there are millions of people around the world supporting us. Millions of people, how comforting.

10 Tips on Dealing with the Crisis.

1. It is okay to be angry. Just don't move your anger to revenge. Justice, well that is another story, but revenge is a form of hatred. It will eat away at you.

2. Limit your exposure to the news. I know it is tempting, but don't watch hour after hour of images that repeat the same death and carnage. It is not healthy. Knowing what is going on is okay. Becoming obsessed with it is another story.

3. Do NOT eat while watching the news or reading about violence. This will incorporate the essence of your sadness into the cell structure of your body.

4. Stop watching the news at least an hour before you go to bed. Listen to music in between. Read something other than news. Do something to break your thought process before you go to bed. Don't go to bed with death images fresh in your mind.

5. Appreciate your life, your loved ones. Tell your family how much you love them. Call some old friends. Talk about old times, not just how horrible terrorists are.

6. Visit nature, go for a walk. Connect with serenity and peace. Realize this is still a beautiful world.

7. Campaign for peace. Pray for it. Pray for comfort of the families in New York. Pray for the families of those who may die in the upcoming events in the Middle East.

8. Exercise your body. Don't let these events rob you of your health or fitness. If you have ever needed exercise, it is NOW!

9. Get plenty of rest and sleep.

10. Eat healthy. This is an important time for you and your body. Don't turn your back on your health, not now. Staying healthy is very important right now.

Remember, this event is like a storm. It has a beginning, a middle and an end. It will be over one day, and you will be able to look back on it. Right now we are just ending the beginning and moving into the middle. Life may be different after all this, but it will resume, and this will all be recorded in history. Don't turn your life over to the terrorists. Endure, but know that this will all end, and life will become normal again. Even if normal is different than now, it WILL be normal again.

Inspirational Thought

A Native American grandfather was talking to his grandson about how he felt about the tragedy. He said, "I feel as if I have two wolves fighting in my heart. One wolf is the vengeful, angry, violent one. The other wolf is the loving, compassionate one."

The grandson asked him, "Which wolf will win the fight in your heart?"

The grandfather answered, "The one I feed."