Turn Toward Your Fellow Man During Troubled Times

Horrible tragedies affect all of us as a human race, not just the people directly involved. The news is saturated with terrible stories about random shootings and unpreventable deaths, so it’s easy to find ourselves numbing to the pain or removing ourselves from the situation entirely.

But we also need to remember that tragedy can strike at any moment and it could affect us directly someday. Even if you don’t know anyone who died in the Orlando nightclub attack, none of us are immune from bad things happening.

If you find yourself feeling angry, sad, defeated or fearful (or if you’re feeling removed and isolated), here are a few suggestions for processing your feelings and moving forward, constructively, in the face of disaster.

Be a force of love in the world.

When horrible things happen I certainly feel bad for everyone involved and angry at the perpetrators. But it’s also a reminder to have compassion for the people in my own life. Two days after Orlando, my sister and I got into a rather large tiff over petty resentments we’ve both been carrying around. In the grand scheme of world events and people dying, our perceived injustices are sort of dumb.

With everything going on around us and out of our control, why can’t we just be kinder to each other? It starts on the inside and radiates outward. Be love.

Don’t use tragedy as opportunity to argue with people on Facebook.

Sharing awful, bigoted posts and comments to get a reaction from others isn’t helpful. People are constantly trying to prove they are right or that their opinion matters more. Shouldn’t we all be trying to seek connection and communication instead?

Use your voice.

Instead of unproductive social media rants, use pain or frustration as a catalyst for change. You can do this by voting. Also, contact your state senators and representatives. Or you can even tweet Congress here.

Take a stand on mental illness.

Now might be a good time to see a counselor if you’ve been contemplating it. We owe it to ourselves to check our own hearts and see if they need healing. You don’t have to have a mental illness - or be ‘crazy’ - to talk to a professional. There’s some good advice out there about overcoming social stigmas associated with counseling.

Or maybe you want to help others by learning mental health response skills. For more information, contact Mental Health First Aid and NAMI. We are here to help others and create peace. What can you do today?