Stanford Help Center
723-4577

COPING WITH TRAUMATIC STRESS

• Give yourself permission and time to grieve.

• Eat healthy meals and exercise.

• Get enough rest.

• Ask for support and help from your family, friends, church, therapists or other community resources.

• Reduce expectations about your level of productivity for a while.

• Set small realistic goals to help tackle obstacles. For example, reestablish daily routines for yourself and your family.

• Be understanding and tolerant of others’ reactions. Remember that people react differently.

• Continue to educate yourself and family about normal reactions to a disaster.

• Talk to your children. Be supportive. Assist them in expressing their reactions to traumatic events.

• Seek help from professionals if severe traumatic stress symptoms persist.

• Take breaks from media coverage of crises.