How to Coach Yourself and Others Empowering Coaching And Crisis Interventions | Page 138

This book is in B&W, not color - Print page in Grayscale for Correct view! Moving Past a Moment of Crisis If you have recently had a traumatic experience, you may be having feelings that are new to you. Dr. Phil explains that some of these emotions and fears are normal under the circumstances, and offers suggestions on how to move past the moment of crisis: If you fear that something traumatic might happen again, you are experiencing rational regression. Understand that this is a natural reaction to a traumatic event. Be patient with yourself and realize there is rational fear and irrational fear. With rational fear, we react to a real threat and protect ourselves. When we have irrational fear, we are scared even though there is no threat to us. If you were injured during your traumatic event, it's normal to have fears (that may seem irrational) until your body heals. Understand that it will not be like this for the rest of your life. You will heal. Stop asking "What if something happens again?" Remember that something traumatic happened and you got through it. If something else happens, you will get through that too. When you do survive a moment of crisis, know that there is a reason. Don't have survivor's guilt. Decide that there's a purpose, find it, and live it. Don't be afraid to reach out and ask for help from friends, family or a mental health professional. The American Counseling Association recommends Five Ways to help with coping AFTER a crisis situation. 1. Recognize your own feelings about the situation and talk to others about your fears. Know that these feelings are a normal response to an abnormal situation. 2. Be willing to listen to family and friends who have been affected and encourage them to seek counseling if necessary. 3. Be patient with people; fuses are short when dealing with crises and others may be feeling as much stress as you. 4. Recognize normal crises reactions, such as sleep disturbances and nightmares, withdrawal, reverting to childhood behaviors and trouble focusing on work or school. 5. Take time with your children, spouse, life partner, friends and co-workers to do something you enjoy. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Symptoms Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a complex anxiety disorder that may develop after exposure to an extremely stressful or life-threatening event — involving death, the threat of death or serious injury — with resulting intense fear, helplessness or horror. If you experience these symptoms for a duration of more than a month, you could be suffering from PTSD. "This is not meant to be used to diagnose yourself, but rather raise your awareness of when you might need to reach out," Dr. Phil says. Persistently Re-Experiencing the Event Having recurring dreams about the event or having persistent and distressing recollections of the event. Feeling and acting as if the trauma was reoccurring — hallucinations or flashbacks — and experiencing distress when exposed to cues. For example, Dr. Phil's guest, Shelita, was attacked at gunpoint in her house, so when she is at home, she often replays the event in her mind. For [email protected] Property of Bookemon, do NOT distribute 138