Terror Aftermath: How To Cope With Stress ( Mrinal plz check this out )

Each one of us feels grief differently and handles it differently as well. Grief-induced stress is such a personal problem and we all face it at some point in our lives. For some of us the stress is brought on by work or at home; for others, events such as those that unfolded last week in Mumbai and the fright that we may be affected next are sufficient to trigger all kinds of emotions. When coping with such a situation, you may just feel mentally drained.

Signs that you are stressed as a result of the terrorist attack

• You have inexplicable mood swings during the day.
  
• You feel insecure and jittery and you've become restless and impatient.
  
• You are fearful of what's around the corner, or the guy sitting next to you on the bus with a backpack.
  
• Loud noises including blaring music now hurt your ears.
  
• You have trouble sleeping and suffer from frequent nightmares.
  
• You have lost your appetite and are eating poorly or are binging on junk food, packaged fried foods and ice-cream late at night.
  
• You are unable to concentrate at work or have a normal conversation with friends.

What can I do to help myself?

• Remind yourself that grief is a normal human emotion and that a lot of people across the country are experiencing the same thing.
  
• Practise yoga, exercise or relaxation techniques to help improve your mood. It may be hard to motivate yourself, so modify your usual routine if you need to. Don't, however, exercise late in the day -- it increases your alertness.
  
• Reach out to others. By becoming a part of the larger community (be it a residential colony or your school/college) and finding ways to help others in similar situations can alleviate one's own feelings of frustration, isolation and fear. Empower yourself by talking to others, learning the issues of the larger local community and helping out with them in whatever big or small way you can.
  
• Get adequate rest. Your mood will be more manageable and your body can more effectively fight stress when it's well-rested.
  
• Stop watching news channels that are telecasting the same carnage over and over. Also, don't watch a reality show or read a book that is stimulating, frightening or violent right before going to bed.
  
• Avoid excess caffeine intake, which can increase feelings of anxiety and agitation. Also avoid alcohol and tobacco; caffeine and nicotine both stimulate the central nervous system, so if you're going to indulge in these habits, at least don't do so for a few hours before bedtime. They will only disrupt your sleep cycle.
  
• Don't eat to overcome depression. Instead of walking into a fast food restaurant and ordering fries and a milkshake, take a walk, treat yourself to a movie, listen to music, read or call a friend. Plan enjoyable outings for yourself. Activities like listening to soft music, talking to a friend, drawing, writing, or spending time with a pet can also help reduce stress.

Sensible eating to help you relax

Sometimes the strongest longings for food occur when you're at your weakest, emotionally. Many people turn to food for comfort -- consciously or unconsciously -- when they're facing a difficult problem or looking to keep themselves occupied.

• Eat right -- You may feel like skipping meals or you may not feel hungry, but your body still needs nutritious food. But emotional eating, ie eating as a way to suppress stress, anger, anxiety, boredom, sadness or loneliness -- can make you pack on the pounds.
  
• Snack healthy -- If you feel the urge to eat between meals, choose a low-fat, low-calorie food, such as fresh fruit, vegetables with fat-free dip or unbuttered popcorn. Or test low-fat, lower calorie versions of your favorite foods to see if they satisfy your cravings.
  
• Try to eat at fairly regular intervals -- Don't skip breakfast. Include foods from the basic groups in your meals. Emphasise whole grains,vegetables and fruit, as well as low-fat dairy products and lean protein sources. When you fill up on the basics, you're more likely to feel fuller for longer.
  
• Eat only if you are hungry -- Often, emotional eating leads to overeating, especially high-calorie, sweet, salty and fatty foods. Is your hunger physical or emotional? If you ate just a few hours ago and don't have a rumbling stomach, you're probably not really hungry. Give the craving a few minutes to pass.
  
• To sleep well -- Drink a warm glass of low-fat milk before bed, the amino acid tryptophan in the milk will help make you sleepy. Avoid going to bed hungry or on a full stomach. Being hungry stimulates you, while being full can give you indigestion and heartburn.

In addition to the tips listed above, you can also soothe yourself by building a network of friends who can help you cope in a positive way. Or talk about your feelings in an online blog or chat room, share your experiences with others. Take a break from stressful situations. Work towards bringing both the society and your life back into order.

We offer our condolences to the families directly impacted by this tragedy. May we find strength as a country and as a people to stand up and show our resilience.