How College Students Can Cope with Fear and Anxiety Following the MSU Shooting

3 Ways College Students Can Cope with Mass Shooting Anxiety

For some, the easy answer in response to mass shootings is to withdraw. While this may make you feel protected in the short-term, it can grow into a pathology that prevents you from nurturing important relationships and getting the most from your learning experience. Let’s look at some healthy ways to cope.

Limit Your News Intake

Most college students these days grew up with technology. While unplugging from the constant news updates may seem counterintuitive, it’s important to give your nervous system a break. Sure, staying on top of each news update as it comes in keeps you informed, but it also compounds existing distress.

You don’t have to ignore social media or the news entirely, but take breaks. If it helps, download a parental control app that prevents you from opening internet or social apps for certain periods of time.

Practice Self Care

The phrase, “There are others who have it worse,” might objectively be true, but it shouldn’t discredit your own emotional experience. Even if you’re across the country, your feelings of distress following the MSU shooting are valid. Be open to your own emotional wellbeing and allow yourself to engage in self care. On top of making sure you’re getting adequate sleep and eating enough nutrients, self-care can include:

• Exercise: Physical activity is a great way to reduce anxiety levels. You could try gentle yoga, stretching, or going on a walk.
• Meditation: Meditation can also support the positive effects of exercise. There are plenty of apps and YouTube videos out there that offer guided meditation.
• Journaling: This is a type of mindfulness that can help bring your mind to the present instead of worrying about the what-ifs. Many people find it beneficial and there’s no wrong way to do it. You could write in your journal like a diary, use it as a mood tracker, or create lists of things you’re grateful for.
• You-time: Depending on your interests, this could be a variety of things. For some, it may be sitting in a bubble bath, doing a face mask and watching a comfort movie, or reading a book with a mug of tea. For others, it may be crafting, playing video games, or cooking a new recipe.

Seek Support

Following a mass casualty, it’s not uncommon for us to ironically feel alone and isolated. That’s why it’s important to stay in touch with your support system, such as friends and family. If talking about the event with them becomes too distressing, it’s okay to set some boundaries. Emotional support doesn’t always mean immediately dissecting a stressful experience. Part of emotional support is simply being there and being connected. Just make sure you’re not bottling it all up.

Additionally, consider reaching out to a therapist or counselor. If you’re not totally comfortable opening up to friends and family, this is a great way to unpack what’s going on and learn how to cope. In therapy, you’re free to explore and express your emotions without bias. For some, treatment methods, such as EMDR, may be beneficial for coping with mass shooting anxiety.