Psychological first aid is as natural and reasonable
as physical first aid and is just as familiar. When you were hurt
as a child, the understanding attitude of your parents did as
much as the psychological effect of a bandage or a disinfectant
to ease the pain. Later, your disappointment or grief was eased
by supportive words from a friend. Certainly, taking a walk and
talking things out with a friend are familiar ways of dealing
with an emotional crisis. The same natural feelings that make
us want to help a person who is injured make us want to give a
helping hand to a buddy who is upset. Psychological first
aid really means nothing more complicated than assisting
people with emotional distress whether it results from physical
injury, disease, or excessive stress. Emotional distress is not
always as visible as a wound, a broken leg, or a reaction to pain
from physical damage. However, overexcitement, severe fear excessive
worry, deep depression, misdirected irritability and anger are
signs that stress has reached the point of interfering with effective
coping. The more noticeable the symptoms become, the more urgent
the need for you to be of help and the more important it is for
you to know HOW to help.
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