Self-care and the impact of war

Dear College of Education Community,

Many in our community continue to be deeply and negatively impacted as we recognize the one-year anniversary of the war in Middle East. There also exists much pain and sorrow in relation to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Witnessing war-time violence can trigger anxiety,  depression, and traumatic stress. These feelings are being experienced by people everywhere, those directly in the path of the violence, those who currently have families and friends in the Middle East or Ukraine, and those concerned about the effects of war everywhere.

The impact of violent crises in our world can be very personal. "We often are triggered by the similarity of these events to the commonalities in our own lives," notes Jim Kendall, LCSW, CEAP. "To cope with this requires incredible courage and resilience." If you or a colleague are having difficulty coping, here are some things you can do:

• Listen to others even if their viewpoints are different from your own and continue to validate the feelings that you have.
• Focus on the things you have control over.
• Reflect on the fact that, at the moment, you are safe.
• Prioritize your own self-care.
• Seek support from friends, colleagues, or a professional if your distress begins interfering with your function, your work, or your relationships.
• If you are feeling helpless, learn more about how to help in relation to the war in Middle East and Ukraine and get involved. Donate aid to organizations who help the people who need your support the most during these crises.

For coping tips for traumatic events and disasters, go to:

https://www.csun.edu/revitalize/toolkits

https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disasters/coping-tips

For resources on how to talk with children about violence, please go to:

 https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-safety-and-crisis/mental-health-resources/war-and-terrorism/helping-children-cope-with-terrorism

For a list of other self-care options, you can also go to our COE self-care website for resources for faculty, staff, students, and the community at

https://www.csun.edu/eisner-education/self-care

The educational and counseling communities continue our commitment to restoring peace and safeguarding human life at this time of conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine.

Warmly,
Shari