I am willing to bet:
Right now, a group of Baton Rouge women are having a study session. Instead of studying, they are talking about how frustrating and terrifying it is to have a serial killer in their city.
Tonight they are going to lose sleep in fear of a break-in. They even may fall asleep with pepper spray in hand.
Once asleep, a restless night will leave the girls tired for their test.
Tomorrow morning the girls will awaken, won’t jog and won’t go to the grocery store as planned.
One of the girls will question the existence of God and the others won’t socialize at Fred’s on Friday as they normally do.
The experiences Baton Rouge women are dealing with are common, yet can lead to stress-related problems.
As if college women aren’t on the verge of mental illness already with midterms, job loads, summer intern plans, graduation, etc., living in fear can cause disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) — trauma-related symptoms of stress or panic.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) identifies post-traumatic stress disorder as an illness that can occur due to exposure to human-caused disasters — in this case, serial slayings.
Just being a college-aged female puts us at greater risk for a panic disorder. According to the NIMH, “panic disorder typically develops in late adolescence or early adulthood and is twice as common in women as in men.”
Just because the victims’ deaths did not occur in your immediate family or circle of friends does not mean post-traumatic stress can’t happen to you.
People who experience an event vicariously through media images can also experience traumatic stress, according to Saint Francis Health System.
NIMH confirms that sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety and irritability or outbursts of anger are signs of a post-traumatic stress sufferer.
Crisiscoping.org advises professional assistance when:
Symptoms interfere with usual activities, change your behavior in significant ways or persist for more than two weeks. If you are unable to escape feelings of panic, guilt, depression or stress, or these symptoms are extreme or prolonged.
If you’re tired of living in fear:
Turn your frustration into positive action. Get involved in the fight against this man by watching out for yourself and the women around you.Vent to others about your fears and anxieties. Bottling these feelings up can cause post-traumatic stress symptoms. Talk to a counselor. Counselors can evaluate whether your fears are typical or a sign of more serious problems.
The National Center for PTSD finds that avoidance and blame are rarely effective coping strategies.
Don’t change what you do in your weekly routine. Change when and with whom you do your activities. Withdrawal from your everyday life can make things seem even more chaotic.
Be patient with each other. We all deal with crisis differently — lend and ear and a hand to those who need it.