The Decision in
Ferguson and You
Photo credit Christina Feldman
With
the Grand Jury’s decision, a myriad of possible emotions may have been triggered
for some of us ranging from anger, disillusionment, extreme disappointment,
anxiety and/or other intense emotions.
In addition, the possible ramifications of the decision might pose troubling
personal dilemmas since there are two sides to the issue and possibly more than
two....but for our emotional health.... revolves around truth for us, our
experiences, and the experiences of people we care about.
Some students might feel very frustrated and angry about the Grand Jury decision
because they do not agree with the decision at all. Other students might support
the decision and cannot understand why the decision cannot not just be
“accepted”. It is also possible that students who are friends will find
out that they are at odds with differing opinions on this issue and may
experience increased tension and difficulty maintaining the friendship and may
even experience the ending of some friendships.
These and other kinds of personal feelings, experiences and conflicts can add to
the level of intensity of emotions that you might already be feeling. However,
you can be assured that it is "normal" and expected that you might be
experiencing a wide range of emotions at an already stressful academic time.
We at the Counseling Center encourage you to be aware that such intense feelings can and often
do cause additional physical and mental strain. As you go through the next few
days or several weeks, you may feel more fatigued and be having difficulty
concentrating, sleeping, and eating normally. Many of you may find yourselves
crying or getting angry more easily. In fact, you may direct irritation or
aggression at people or things that usually would not bother you.
Some of you may have noticed some or all of these things happening to you, but
you may have just been attributing these feelings or experiences solely toward
the rigors of being a student. Perhaps after reading this, you might make the
connection that your increased anxiety might be connected to this Grand Jury
decision.
Just remember, that stressful times require us to be easier on ourselves. It is
very important to be extra caring of ourselves at this time. Some effective ways
of coping with stress and related emotions might include:
MANAGING OUR EMOTIONS
Recognize what you can and cannot control. We do not have any control over
the Ferguson Grand Jury and the decision they came to, but we can control many
things in our daily lives. One way people try to gain a sense of control is by
gathering information and being knowledgeable about the issue. Unfortunately,
sometimes having more information can increase stress. It is wise to monitor
whether news and excessive social media exposure has a positive or negative
impact on you and how much is right for you.
CREATE AND CONNECT WITH A CARING COMMUNITY
·
Pay attention
to specific needs of race or ethnicity concerns. This decision may result in a
heightened sense of awareness of your racial/ethnic identities.
·
Talking over
your concerns with other people in a safe, comfortable environment could be very
helpful
·
Actively find
ways to not be alone: Spending time with friends, family, colleagues, or social
groups who are willing/able to listen to you can be extremely helpful. Even if
you do not feel like talking, being with others who are experiencing the same
feelings and talking about them can be comforting.
· Participate in campus counseling support services: Many support services are available to provide you with a safe space to share concerns, worries, fears, and/or anxiety with a professional counselor. Walk-in crisis support is offered here at the Counseling Center daily at 10 am and 2 pm and scheduled appointments can be made by calling (816) 235-1635.
·
Turn to your
spiritual and religious faiths: If you belong to a spiritual or religious
community, gathering together for worship, prayer, discussion, a meal or other
forms of religious or spiritual expression, can strengthen the bonds of human
connections and be a force of comfort in your life.
ASKING FOR HELP
At a stressful time, asking for help can be very difficult for some people.
Sometimes, it is not an easy step. People often do not like to ask others for
help or to involve outsiders with these kinds of difficulties unless there is
considerable distress and unhappiness and until after they have tried everything
else. It takes sound judgment to know when additional help is needed and courage
to ask for it.
So don't be afraid to ask for help. If
it is hard for you, learn how to ask comfortably, knowing that you have the
need, the right, and the inborn ability to do it. Much more often than you
think, other people (friends, family and professionals) are more than willing to
help provide you with a listening ear.
Written by and used with permission of the University of Michigan CAPS.