Dealing with Post-Test Trauma

1.  School Counsellors
q  School counsellors work with students, parents or caretakers and teachers in a variety of ways.
Their work includes:
q counselling students
q  assisting parents or caretakers to make informed decisions about their child's education
q  assessing students' learning and behavior
q  assisting schools to identify and address disabilities that affect students' learning
q  Liaising (communicating) with other agencies concerned with the well-being of students.
2. Physical Reactions
q  aches and pains like headaches, backaches, stomach aches
q  sudden sweating and/or heart palpitations (shivers)
q  changes in sleep patterns, appetite
q  easily startled (shocked) by noises or unexpected touch
q  increased use of alcohol or drugs and/or overeating
3. Emotional Reactions
q  shock and disbelief (doubt)
q  fear and/or anxiety
q  grief, disorientation (confusion), denial
q  irritability, restlessness, outbursts of anger
q  emotional swings -- like crying and then laughing
q  feelings of helplessness, panic, feeling out of control
q  increased need to control everyday experiences
q  feelings of detachment
4. Remedies 
q  talk about the traumatic (disturbing) experience with empathic listeners
q  cry
q  hard exercise like jogging, aerobics (exercises), bicycling, walking
q  relaxation exercise like yoga, massage
q  prayer and/or meditation
q  maintain balanced diet and sleep cycle as much as possible

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