In Crisis: There Are Ways To Endure

ENDURE

Eat and Sleep. Take care of yourself physically. Evidence shows that poor sleep and poor nutrition can contribute to poorer memory, poorer problem-solving and creative thinking, lower frustration tolerance, greater tendency toward negative thinking and depression, and decreased physical stamina.

No Panic. Try not to panic. If experiencing feelings of panic, take a deep breath, acknowledge the negative of the situation (i.e., don’t deny), but remind yourself in a general sort of way that things will be OK in time. Don’t expect to have a specific solution for everything right now.

Don’t Dwell on the negative, but find some time to “let it all out” either alone or with others. Just saying things out loud can do wonders for putting things in perspective, finding creative solutions, or just getting in touch with your true feelings about things.

Use Help If…. Do seek professional advice if you notice one or more of the following for an extended period of time (e.g., 5 or more days in a row):
a. Significantly disrupted sleep
b. Intense feelings of anxiety or fear
c. Intense feelings of anger or frustration
d. Recurrent crying episodes of feelings of intense sadness or hoplessness
e. Social withdrawal; loss of enjoyment in things
f. Overuse of substances such as food, alcohol, or medicines/drugs

Rest Periods. Take periodic breaks. Even brief (10 min) breaks from physical or mental exertion or worry can give renewed strength. Rest, relax, play, read, take a walk, or just take a break from worrisome news, but get both your mind and body off of the negative for a least brief periods.

Examine and Prioritize problems, and try to focus more on things you can control, rather than those you can’t control right now.

Reference: Dr. Erich Duchmann, LSU Team Sports Psychologist