Your Mind Your Body

On Tuesday, August 3, 2010, Omar Thornton kissed his girlfriend goodbye, told her he loved her and headed to work. Within hours, he had shot eight innocent people and then killed himself, creating the largest mass shooting in Connecticut.

People want to know why this happened and could it have been prevented.  At this time, it’s difficult to make sense of what happened or why.

According to news reports, Thornton was shown a video in which he was shown stealing beer from the company, a beer wholesaler. Thornton agreed to resign, and then just “pulled out a gun and began blasting,” said an employee of the family-owned business.

There is no real logic behind this kind of act. Family, friends and total strangers are struggling to cope with this tragedy.  For many, this will be a long and difficult road–not only for the people in the Connecticut community where the shooting occurred, but for people all over the country. Our sense of safety was once again shattered in a few short minutes.

As we go through the process of understanding, healing, and maybe learning how to prevent these horrible tragedies, there are several things that can help us to go on with our lives.  The American Psychological Association  recommends that you:

• Talk about the incident with friends and colleagues.
• Strive for balance. While it may seem that the world is just falling apart, it is important to remember that there are so many good people and things in this world. They just aren’t publicized as often.
• Turn off TV and take a break. Keep informed but try to limit the amount of news you take in. Being overexposed actually increases your stress. And remember, young kids may think that shootings are continuing to happen.
• Accept your feelings. People experience all kinds of emotions after a tragedy. Sadness, anger frustration and even exhaustion are all normal.
• Take care of yourself and your family. Eating well, exercising and getting plenty of rest really do help us get through each day and move forward.
• Reach out and help others. This really can make you feel better. 
• Learn about the process of grief. Grief is a long process. Even if you have not lost someone in the most recent tragedy, hearing about tragedies can trigger sad feelings about other losses you have experienced.
• Ask for help. If you feel stuck or overwhelmed by your emotions, it may be helpful to talk with a licensed psychologist or other mental health professional who can help you cope with your feelings and  find ways to get back on track.

Some violence can be prevented. Learning the warning signs of impending violence both at home and at work and knowing who to contact for help can make us feel safer.  Learning and teaching our children healthy ways of coping with stress may also help us prevent future episodes of violence.

Photo by wvs via Flickr.

Filed under: Lifestyle & Behaviors, Resilience, Stress, Work/Life