After such incidents as the Westgate Mall attack, after all the follow-up shocking revelations, after several statements from the government and other concerned bodies, honestly, no one ever cares or bothers to find out how the victims and survivors are doing or how they get to continue with their lives. Seeing all those videos and images from Westgate, I could only imagine how those who had been caught up in the siege felt, waiting for help that may never arrive, afraid that the attackers might find you at any minute and end your life, dealing with the fact that you will most probably not see tomorrow. Your whole life flashes before your eyes. The mistakes you made and won’t have time to correct, the wonderful things that have been happening to you recently that now you have to say goodbye to, and of course the fear of unknown that engulfs most of us whenever the idea of death comes to mind. Let’s not forget that there were young children also held up in the mayhem.

So how then, can a victim be able to find a way of leading a normal life as they did before the incident? Of course, things will never really go back to the way they were, but we can find a way of dealing with the pain.

Ø  Share experiences. Talking to people who have gone through a similar or worse incident can be very beneficiary to the healing process. You start to realize that having been caught up in the mayhem was just bad luck that could happen to anyone anywhere. That way you stop asking questions like “why me” or feeling that you are probably being punished for your past mistakes.

Ø  Seek counseling. Seeking a professional counselor’s help will help in releasing the anger, pain and confusion that you still hold inside. They help you to understand your emotions better and make it easier to deal with them.

Ø  Get out. Do not lock yourself up in the house, because most of the time your mind will keep going back to the incident. Go back to work, or school. Take up an exciting or involving activity such as swimming or sports. Go out with friends and have a good time. Walk around in town to familiarize yourself with the outside world once again.

Ø  Give yourself time to heal. Realize that getting back to your normal life isn’t going to happen overnight. As they say, time is the best healer. So as you embark on the road to recovery, be patient with yourself, and do not ignore your feelings. When you feel like crying, know that it is okay to do so. And surround yourself with people, whether family or friends, or a support group, as they will make your journey much easier.

Article source: https://www.zakenya.com/Self-Improvement/132-How-to-Cope-with-Trauma.html