Some Ideas for Helping in Disasters
Since so many compassionate, concerned people have been asking,
here is an outline of some suggestions as to how YOU can help alleviate
some of the suffering in the wake of the disasters around the world.
- Prayer! (It works.) Group prayer is especially effective.
- Spiritual energy work – Imagine healing visualizations, and send colors of light into the areas affected. Particularly helpful is green (healing and balance), pink (love), violet (transformation), and irridescent golden white. Pure white light is for total unconditional love for all concerned, including perpetrators.
- Do your own emotional clearing work. Feel your feelings. Vent appropriately. Refrain from adding to the negativity with thoughts of vengeance and hatred. Send love and compassion. Transform your negative emotions. (Try N.E.T. or E.M.D.R.)
- Provide emotional support for each other. Take time to listen to those who need to tell their story. Encourage others who need to vent, as well. Talk to your children.
- Volunteer – time, energy, skills, blood, money, supplies. The American Red Cross is very active in these efforts.
- If you know victims personally, or one reaches out to you:
- Offer a listening ear. Do NOT try to make it better. Meet them “where they are” emotionally.
- Allow them to move at their own pace through the stages of grief (see below.)
- EMPATHIZE. It’s OK to cry. However, if you are unable to maintain control of your emotions when needed, consider that you may not be the best person to help. Find someone who can, and take care of yourself.
- Be prepared for exaggerated reactions, and shock. Refuse to take any expressions of anger personally. It is normal for some victims to feel enraged.
- There are no SHOULDs. People will feel what they feel. Allow. Support. If children want to go out and play, let them do so. Healing, including emotional healing, often follows a sine wave. People will go in and out of grief, as they need to.
- Offer physical contact, appropriately. Reach out your hand, put an arm around shoulders, offer hugs. If these are unwelcome, honor this.
- Offer assistance on the physical level: home-cooked meals, errands, phone calls, transportation, protection (screening calls), etc.
- Take care of your own needs, as well. Care is also for the caregiver.
