Our community went through enormous trauma with the October 2018 synagogue shooting. It elicited feelings of fear, anxiety, anger, sadness, and helplessness. As we prepare for the trial of the synagogue shooter, you may find feelings that you experienced during the initial shooting resurfacing. It may feel surprising that, after so much time, the feelings seem to impact you once again, but this can be very normal. Feelings and memories can be retriggered by related circumstances or events.
While there is no “right” or “wrong” way to feel, you may be concerned about what is a normal amount of distress in such a situation and when to seek professional help. The main consideration is whether your distress is impacting your normal functioning.
Ask yourself:
Are you spending excessive amounts of time worrying about the trial, or reading or watching about it?
Are the feelings getting in the way of your normal day-to-day functioning?
Are there noticeable changes in your daily habits?
Are you unable to enjoy things you normally enjoy doing? Is it hard to find pleasure in anything?
Are you being impacted in one or more of these ways?
- Feeling sad most of the time
- Lack of appetite, or eating more than normal
- Change in sleeping habits: Sleeping too much, or having difficulty or disrupted sleep, including nightmares
- Anxiety about being in certain situations/places that is interfering with your normal functioning (i.e., not being able to go to the grocery store, be in crowds, school, etc.)
- Constant worry or fear that is disruptive
- Suicidal thoughts
- Self harming thoughts or behaviors
- Increased alcohol or substance use
- Social isolation/withdrawal
- Physical symptoms (persistent headache, stomachache, fatigue, muscle soreness)
- Emotional volatility, anger, violent thoughts or behaviors
If you find yourself answering yes to many of these questions, you may want to seek out a professional therapist to offer additional support and help navigate your feelings during this difficult time. Please reach out to schedule an appointment at 412-422-7200.
You can also reach out to the 10.27 Healing Partnership through their hotline at 1-888-796-8226 or visit their office for support during their drop in hours: Monday, Tuesday, Friday at 10am-1pm and Wednesday, Thursday at 3pm-6pm.
If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, self harm, or harm to others, please call the Center for Victims Crisis Hotline at 1-866-644-2882. If a person is an immediate threat to themselves or others (violent, threatening violence, actively suicidal), call 911 and explain that there is a psychiatric emergency.