Coping with Disaster

Tips for College Students

For many college students, the horrific Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C., mark the first major national catastrophe they have ever experienced. In the aftermath of the attacks, students across the country may feel uncertain about a future they had just begun to carefully map out. Some may have suffered the loss of parents, relatives or friends. Others may wonder how our nation’s response to the attacks will involve them. Nobody is unaffected.

Whether you have been directly or indirectly impacted, it is important to know that each person reacts differently to disaster, and it is normal and expected to experience a range of responses. Emotional responses can appear immediately or sometimes develop months later. Those students who live away from home may have a more difficult time coping without the reassurance of family nearby.

But understanding what you’re feeling and taking positive steps to address those feelings can help you cope. Below is a list of common responses to be aware of, and the next page offers practical tips on how to deal with your reactions and a list of resources. Remember that things may never be quite the same, but they will get better, and you will feel better.

Some Common Responses to Disaster and its Consequences:

Disbelief and shock
Fear and anxiety about the future
Disorientation; difficulty making decisions or concentrating
Inability to focus on schoolwork and extracurricular activities
Apathy and emotional numbing
Irritability and anger
Extreme mood swings
Sadness and depression
Feelings of powerlessness
Extreme changes in eating patterns; loss of appetite or overeating
Crying for “no apparent reason”
Headaches and stomach problems
Difficulty sleeping
Excessive use of alcohol and drugs

Most of these reactions will decrease as time passes and you begin to resume your daily activities. Because everyone experiences stress differently, don’t compare your progress with other people’s or judge their reactions and emotions.

Tips for Coping

Talk about it and encourage others to share their perspectives. Sharing your feelings with friends, professors, classmates and family will help you work through what happened. Talking with others will relieve stress and help you realize that other people have similar feelings.

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 tragedy. Avoid excessive drinking and risk-taking activities. As soon as you feel comfortable, go back to usual routines.

Stay connected to friends and family. Make plans to visit family or other people who can offer reassurance. If you can’t be with them in person, increase your contact through phone calls and e-mails.

Do something positive that will help you gain a greater sense of control (for example, give blood, take a first aid class, or donate food or clothing). Get involved with campus activities planned in response to the disaster, such as a candlelight vigil, benefit, discussion group or special lecture.

Ask for help if you feel overwhelmed by lingering thoughts about the disaster—it’s not a sign of weakness. Talk with a trusted friend, family member or faith leader. Use on-campus resources such as the college counseling center and health center.

If you have strong feelings that won’t go away or if you are troubled for longer than four to six weeks, you may want to seek professional help. Being unable to manage your responses to the disaster and resume your regular activities may be symptoms of depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder. People who have existing mental health problems and those who have survived past trauma may also want to check in with a mental health care professional. Help is available; you don’t have to deal with this alone.

The National Mental Health Association has several resources available to help you and others cope with this disaster, including fact sheets on post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, coping with loss and other topics. To obtain this information, visit www.nmha.org or call our toll-free line at 800-969-NMHA (6642).

For additional information, visit the following Web sites:

American College Counseling Association www.collegecounseling.org
American College Health Association www.acha.org
American College Personnel Association www.acpa.nche.edu
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention www.afsp.org
Anxiety Disorders Association of America www.adaa.org
Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention, Inc. www.edap.org
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information www.health.org
National Institute of Mental Health www.nimh.nih.gov
National Panhellenic Conference www.npcwomen.org
The BACCHUS and GAMMA Peer Education Network www.bacchusgamma.org

National Mental Health Association
2000 N. Beauregard Street, 6th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22311

Phone 703/684-7722
Fax 703/684-5968

Mental Health Information Center 800/969-NMHA
TTY Line 800/433-5959