Counseling services available during times of war

Whenever military conflicts, wars or terrorist threats are announced, when global discord heightens fears about biological or chemical weapons, those who provide counseling services know to be prepared.

News of the current war with Iraq may cause increased anxiety or feelings of depression, experts say. People should be aware that having reactive feelings is normal, but they may want to consider speaking to a professional counselor if their feelings begin to interfere with daily functioning, says Tom Waldecker, director of the U-M Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FASAP).

"Many individuals are going to have symptoms; they may have shorter tempers, less tolerance of things and less ability to sleep," he says. "People may feel more vulnerable at a time like this. Talking with somebody about one's concerns is better than bottling up one's emotions."

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) has a link on its Web site, http://www.umich.edu/~caps/, about dealing with increased anxiety during wartime. It offers tips for managing emotions, including recognizing what you can and cannot control. People should recognize how much exposure to media they should have, based on whether it has a positive or negative impact on them, the site says. They also should find other ways to gain control, such as creating a schedule of study and recreation; reaching out to family and friends; praying or meditating; and escaping in healthy ways, such as going on hikes or watching movies.

"The advantages of maintaining a sense of a regular routine and schedule involve, in large part, gaining some sense of control over one's life in a time when things seem out of control," says Todd Sevig, director of CAPS, which provides counseling services to students. "Thus, for example, limiting TV/media exposure in a time when we are flooded with images is important. At the same time, gaining information is important. So the key is finding a balance that is right for each of us in this example, and in many other examples."

The CAPS site also recommends that people maintain a regular sleep schedule and offers tips for doing this. Don't exercise or watch television, especially news broadcasts, immediately before bedtime, the site says.

The site links to an American Psychological Association brochure that recommends building resilience in a variety of ways, including making connections with others, taking decisive actions and accepting that change is part of life. The site also offers tips for faculty and staff to help students who are having a difficult time dealing with the war.

As of yet, FASAP hasn't had an influx of people talking with them about war-related stresses, Waldecker says. If they come in, many will seek advice about how to talk with their children; others will come in because the discussions of war or terrorism add more stress to existing concerns and anxieties in their lives, he says. Additionally, some people may come in to talk about their concerns for family members or close friends who are in the military, he says.

While CAPS hasn't had a large influx of people wanting to talk about the impact of war, there have been some so far, Sevig says. He notes that CAPS and other Student Affairs and Academic Affairs units actively are finding ways to be helpful to students during a time that includes the stresses of war, the affirmative action lawsuits, end-of-term pressures, graduation and other issues.

While counseling is helpful to some—even talking with a counselor one or two times can help, especially when these issues trigger past events in people's live—she says that therapy isn't the only way for people to get through these difficult times. "But it is helpful to remember, in whatever forum, to talk about our feelings, acknowledge our feelings, share our feelings with others we trust. And it is important to remember there are multiple ways to cope with emotional distress," Sevig says. "In short, we can do things that are 'therapeutic' without talking with a therapist."

For more information, staff and faculty can contact FASAP at (734) 936-8660, Health System employees can contact the MWorks Employee Assistance Program at (734) 763-5409 and students can contact CAPS at (734) 764-8312.

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