Demi faedah kita semua, saya perturunkan petikan artikel daripada laman web The University of Texas Counseling And Mental Health Center bertajuk When a Friend is in Distress .
Artikel tersebut, antara lain, mencatatkan tanda-tanda orang yang mengalami distress dan bagaimana orang yang mengalami distress boleh dibantu. Namun tiada saya temui saranan agar dikibarkan bendera negara pengidap distress itu secara terbalik.
Berikut ialah petikan dari artikel berkenaan:
Although everyone feels "stressed" at times, excessive stress (i.e., distress) can manifest itself in a number of ways. Although the following list is by no means all-inclusive, you should suspect that a person might be distressed if any of the following apply to him / her:Trouble sleeping
Vague physical aches and pains and / or lack of energy
Loss of interest in activities that s/he once enjoyed
Depressed or lethargic mood
Lack of motivation
Excessive tension or worry
Restlessness; hyperactivity; pressured speech
Excessive alcohol or drug use
Decline in academic performance; drop in class attendance
Social withdrawal
Changes in eating patterns
Self-injury (cutting; scratching; burning)
Unusual or exaggerated response to events (e.g., overly suspicious; overly agitated; easily startled)
How to Help:
Below are a number of suggestions about what to do for a distressed person for whom you are concerned - or if such a person comes to you.
Take the person aside and talk to him / her in private. Try to give the other person your undivided attention. Just a few minutes of listening might enable him or her to make a decision about what to do.
Listen carefully and with sensitivity. Listen in an open minded and nonjudgmental way.
Be honest and direct, but nonjudgmental. Share what you have observed and why it concerns you. For example: "I've noticed that you've been missing class a lot lately and you aren't answering your phone or text messages like you used to. I'm worried about you."
Note that distress often comes from conflicting feelings or demands. Acknowledge this, and from time to time, paraphrase what the other person is saying. For example: "It sounds like on the one hand, you very much want to please your family but on the other hand, you aren't sure that what they want for you is what you really want to do."
Make a referral. Direct the person to the Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC). Encourage him or her to call and make an appointment right then and there. Even better yet: offer to accompany him or her to CMHC.
Follow up. Let the person know that you'll be checking back with him or her later to see how things turned out.
Responding in a caring way to a person in distress can help prevent the distressed person's situation from escalating into a crisis.
