After there is a mass shooting or other horrifying event, I sometimes see articles written by therapists on how to cope. They talk about self-care, reducing exposure to media and getting support. You know, drink herbal tea, eat right, do some yoga, go to therapy. Things like that.
While I am very much in favor of all of those suggestions, they are inadequate — very much like therapeutic “thoughts and prayers.” Taking care of ourselves is important, of course. But doing so in response to a mass shooting is not enough because it does not respond to the event itself. It just lulls us back into numb complacency and denial.
Feeling scared and angry and hopeless after an incident of terrorism is a sign of mental health.
We need to allow our feelings to energize us to take action.
Write a letter.
Make a donation.
Protest.
Join a political group.
Call your senator.
Talk with others.
Raise your voice.
Vote.
Feel your power. Use the power you have to create the change we need.
Your emotions are a result of terrorism. They are not pathological. You do not need to avoid them. You just need to respond to them by taking some action.
Taking action will help your mental health more than all the herbal tea in the world.