There are many life events that can be viewed as stressful. Examples of these include being involved in, or witnessing an accident, being a victim of, or witnessing abuse or violence, or having someone close to you die. Any stressful event can affect your emotions.
When a stressful event occurs, it is normal to feel some level of stress, anxiety, sadness or fear. It can take time for you to adjust to changes and return to a normal routine.
You may want to check out the Stress fact sheet.
What can I do? It is important for you to find a healthy way to deal with your feelings before they become overwhelming. Here are some tips that may be helpful:
• Keep a diary or journal. It may be useful for you to keep a diary or journal where you can write down your feelings, as well as keep a record of any other activities or events which you’ve experienced.
• Talk to someone. Bottling your thoughts inside you can oftentimes make your reactions worse. It may be helpful to talk to a friend, family member or someone else you trust about the event and your feelings. Another option is for you to share your feelings with someone who was involved in the event.
- Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Dial or text 988 from any phone for free 24/7 support.
Acknowledgement: This fact sheet was originally developed by youth and staff at ReachOut.com, a website that helps teens get through tough times.
