Emotional and mental first aid: 11 immediate interventions

tThis way of living can lead to confusing questions when trying to manage emotional or mental health issues. For example, what do we do when chaos hits and we suffer a serious injury? Let’s talk about that…

A cut, a burn, an insect bite, a nosebleed, a sprain, a fracture: most of us know some effective first aid interventions.

A panic attack, a derealization/depersonalization episode, a manic attack, a phobic reaction, a breakdown, out-of-control anger, self-harm, or suicidal ideation: many of us have no idea.

Curious, isn’t it?

Emotional and mental first aid.

How many first aid courses have you taken? A lot on this side of the fence. Would you agree that traditional first aid focuses on the physical injuries suffered by others?

But what if it is an emotional or mental injury? What if we are the ones harmed? So what?

Traditionally, it hasn’t really mattered. However, there have been positive changes in educational terminology and curricula, such as Psychological first aid.

Right here, right now, let’s go with emotional and mental first aid.

Emotional and mental first aid: 11 immediate interventions

For about 50 years, I have suffered my fair share of emotional and mental injuries. And I will tell you that I used to be one of those who had no idea how to respond.

With that experience under my belt, I bring you the following interventions in case you suffer an injury…

1. Keep in mind that the goal is not an immediate “fix.” If you follow that path, you will become a top. The fundamental thing here is emotional and mental stabilization and survival.
2. Find a safe, quiet place (it could be where you are) and slow down long enough to get an accurate idea of ​​what is happening. There is no way you can expect to stabilize and survive in the immediate future if you don’t know what is really going on. As you do so, be aware of how you traditionally receive, interpret, and respond to troubling circumstances. Does your mind flood you with inaccurate data? This would also be a good time to pull some grounding techniques out of your back pocket.
3. Expanding on point 2, I’d bet as much as possible that cognitive distortions are a big part of your life. There are several that can come into play, but they are catastrophic: the “What if…?” What does a disaster mean? – can wreak havoc.
4. Remember a time when you found yourself in the same or similar situation. What did you do that worked? No? And if you fell apart, that’s okay, get pumped up for this round by saying, “What better time to change? This time I’ll make it!
5. Don’t do it alone, unless you have no other option. Isolation will get you nowhere quickly. Spouse, partner, family member, friend, therapist, psychiatrist, spiritual power: ask for help. You deserve the company and support.
6. Never discount the positive influence of exercise, proper food and drink intake, quiet time, hobbies, meditation, yoga, rest, sleep, etc. Regular participation and practice will result in less frequent injuries and will be easier to manage when they occur. . And why not, say, go to the gym or meditate in the moment?
7. I can think of all kinds of quick pain relievers for injuries: alcohol, cannabis, recreational drugs, tobacco, benzos, opioids, and more. Don’t abuse (trust) any of them. You can handle the situation without that kind of help.
8. Keep a progress diary and update it at any interval you choose, as well as after an injury. What a great way to stay focused and disciplined. And it’s the perfect way to track progress. Why not take it with you? It will provide excellent inspiration and reference material when push comes to shove.
9. Reach out to someone who needs it. Yes, when things get a little better, help someone stabilize and survive their injury. Seriously, there are enough of you to go around.
10. If you don’t have a spiritual power or constantly chat with it, what better time to make some changes? If everything is ready, what better time to nurture the relationship?
11. Who knows how long the worst will last? Just be patient and remain hopeful because the fact is that you will eventually get out of the weeds. You probably know this from the past.

There are certainly more, but decades of suffering injuries and doing everything possible to intervene effectively led me to share these eleven. And customizing for the best fit is always a good thing.

Finally, use what you’ve learned when it’s your turn to administer first aid to someone who needs it.

To be prepared

Those of us facing emotional and mental challenges know it’s a matter of when, not if. We will suffer an injury and everything will be a matter of survival and immediate emotional and mental stabilization.

So get to work, have your grounding techniques ready, understand how you traditionally react to a serious injury, know who you’ll contact if necessary, and know that this veteran in the trenches has seen and survived some pretty nasty things. . …

To be prepared.

If you or a loved one is in immediate danger of suffering any form of self-harm, call 988 in the US and here is a list of international suicide hotlines.

If you want to read more information about Chipur and inspirational articles, please read the titles carefully.

After a decades-long battle with panic, generalized anxiety, mood swings and alcohol dependence; Bill finally found his passion and life’s work: lending a hand to those in the same boat. At age 49 he entered graduate school and earned his counseling credentials. And he continues his service through Chipur and other projects.