Violence - How to Deal With It? The Shooting at Virginia Tech

Violence is senseless yet we are surrounded by it. At one time or another, it will affect us all in some way. Every American in our nation today is focused on the families and friends of the victims at Virginia Tech University.

Sueng-Hui Cho opened fire on students yesterday in a class and on the stairway. Mr. Cho killed 32 students, then turned the gun on himself, shooting himself in the face. Most people by nature do not have a mean bone in their bodies.

However if given just the right circumstances at just the right time, anyone can 'snap'. We are all capable of it. Wouldn’t you protect your loved ones if someone tried to hurt them? Of course you would! You’d be capable of a violent act yourself. See what I mean?

How can we possibly predict it? How can we tell when an explosion will happen? Isn’t that like being able to predict the tidal wave or the volcanic eruption? Sure we can predict them sometimes, with some reliability, but there are those times, when we cannot. Both of these things are acts of random violent.

Unfortunately, I don’t think we can predict it in most cases. It's too spontaneous.

After violent acts occur, how can we get past them and begin to heal? Can we move forward?

Vivid memories of September 11, 2001 came to mind this morning as I watched the news and heard about the shooting at Virginia Tech. It makes you feel numb inside, kinda sick to your stomach.

I’ve dealt with violent acts several times in my life, like I'm sure most of us have. They can be horrific to live through, and if we live through it, will we or can we ever be the same?

There are some things to do though, if you are put into a situation where something horrific occurs.

How to Deal with Violence

1) Get through one moment at a time. Don’t think about the next moment, think about the moment you are in. It will pass, one way or another. Do everything you can to stay focused on survival.

2) Remember to breathe. Keep breathing and try to take relaxing deep breaths. When we are stressed our breathing picks up and our hearts race. Try to calm down as best you can.

3) Don’t get angry. Anger mixed with violent acts is a dangerous mix. Calm yourself down.

4) If you can’t stop crying, get a cold, wet washrag and rub it on your face. Amazing how such a simple thing can make such a big difference.

5) Go for a walk if you can. Get out in nature or just move around. Movement or any exercise is good for you and will help you de-stress and get past the moment.

6) Call someone if you can. If you need help call anyone who can help you. We all need help. Don’t hesitate!!!

I hesitated to call for help once. A few years back my son and I were caught in a ripe tide. I knew that you should swim parallel to the beach if you're caught in one. Somehow I just didn’t realize that we were actually in a rip tide. Finally, as we were both nearing exhaustion, a man saw us and came and rescued us with his boogie board.

Later he asked me why I hadn’t called for help.

Sometimes we aren’t even aware of it when we are fighting for our lives.

7) Pray like all get out. If you’ve never prayed before, now might be a good time! Whatever your faith, prayer is a powerful tool.

8) Don’t drink alcohol. Alcohol is just not a good thing to consume at this time. Instead have an alkalizing glass of milk. Water and hot tea also have a calming effect. A cup of chicken soup is always a warm fuzzy blanket.

Alcohol is a stimulant and is not recommended during stressful times. Take whatever your dealing with by the horns. Stay straight. You will need your senses about you.

9) Don’t slip into depression. Despair and depression are often emotions after we live through violent acts. Don’t give into it. Once you get in it, it’s hard to get out. Pull all your inner strength. Don’t forget you have tremendous personal power.

Don't let yourself become a victim too!!!

10) Forgiveness is the last step of any violent act. I know it sounds crazy but it really helps you.

If someone commits one against you and you are still alive, you must learn how to forgive them. It may be the hardest thing to do that you've ever done. But it is vital. Hatred, hostility, anger, and resentment will eat away at your soul if you keep them in you. The only way you'll be free of their reign of terror is to forgive them. Forgive but never forget!

We’ve all been to the school of hard knocks. We can get past it.

If we live through it, we can endure. Don’t give up or give into the many strife's of life. Move forward and away from them. You can never forget them but you can move past them and recover if you try.

Don't forget about the students who lost their lives at Virginia Tech and all the people who lost their lives in Katrina and 911 and Iraq and Sudan.

If something destructive happens to you, report it if you can.

Get away from angry people. Do everything in your power to keep you and your family safe!!!

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To go to the next School of Hard Knocks page, here's the link: Spiritualism - Why Ignoring It Won't Make It Go Away~

To view the previous School of Hard Knocks page, here's the link: Find Love and Be Happy!

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