Options for practicing mindfulness include breathing exercises and mindful walks. Mindfulness techniques can help ground you in the present, give you a sense of calm, and reduce anxiety.
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Boundaries that are clear and communicated to others can be a helpful way to protect your emotional well-being. Establishing boundaries around how much of your experience you share and to whom can be empowering. You may also want to consider what your physical, time and emotional boundaries might look like now.
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Whether you lean on friends, family, support groups, or other trusted individuals, having support from those who can provide emotional reinforcement and understanding can be helpful. Isolation can be a common tactic used in interpersonal violence, or an effect of being in a difficult situation, so sometimes you may be building or rebuilding your support system.
An advocate can help connect you to the counseling center or community-based therapist for professional support including individual therapy and/or support groups. You may also want to engage in therapeutic practices such as journal, writing, art, dance, etc. to aid or supplement the professional support. These practices can promote self-discovery and emotional release.
Pay attention to your physical health as it is connected to your overall well-being. Incorporating nourishing food, exercise, and a good sleep routine can help sustain your healing efforts. There are offices on campus such as Health Promotion and the Campus Recreation team that can assist with developing or maintaining physical wellness.
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Developing a routine can help provide stability and structure when everything else around you may feel unsafe or unstable. A routine can also help restore your sense of control and provide a foundation for healing.
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Healing is not a linear process. Knowledge about topics like interpersonal violence, trauma and its effects, and the healing process can be crucial to informing your self-care approach and understanding your emotions.
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