Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Western New Yorkers and the Buffalo community have been subjected to some serious adversity last year and now, the beginning of 2023.
Buffalo had to overcome two lethal storms, a racially-motivated mass shooting and most recently, a fire that took the lives of five children on Dartmouth Ave as well as the sudden collapse of Buffalo Bills safety, 24-year-old Damar Hamlin.
Individuals grieve differently, "Trauma affects everyone differently. You just have to give yourself time to heal, there's no time limit on it," says Leslee Chilcott, a program coordinator for Buffalo Hope with Spectrum Health Services.
What's the best way to deal with trauma? It's best to avoid internalizing your pain.
"The best thing that you can do to get through grief and trauma is to talk about it. Find somebody that you trust to talk to or use your community resources," Chilcott says.
As individuals, it is important to take the time to address all aspects of your health, physical, mental, emotional and social. Chilcott says something simple as establishing healthy routine goes a long way, "Practice self care and mindfulness. Pay attention to how you're feeling, keeping your routine. Eating healthy, exercising, all of those things that you know, you've been hearing your whole life... pay attention to them. Especially when you're grieving and especially when you've been through trauma, make sure you are following your routine."
The Buffalo Bills are continuing to grieve for their fellow teammate, Damar Hamlin, who will forever remember the scary sight that they witnessed playing in Cincinnati when Damar suddenly dropped on the field and temporarily stopped breathing, "I work in an office job and if that happened to where I was at work, I don't think that I would be the same. You know, it's the same for the athletes on that field seeing that happen at their workplace there, it's going to take time for them to heal," Chilcott said.
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Buffalo mental health professionals have resources in place if you need help or someone to talk to. According to Chilcott, "We have crisis services, their phone line as 716-834-3131. Our number at Spectrum Health call line is 716-566-6506. For emergency purposes, the 24/7 emergency line is 716-710-5172 and if you've got kids under the age of 18, we have our Spectrum Health C.A.R.E.S line at 716-882-4357. This is a great way for there to be an in between, if you don't feel as though you need professional help, like a therapist, but you need to talk about it, use the call lines, utilize them. That's what they're here for. Whether you're an athlete or you're a CEO, we all grieve. we all have trauma."
For those looking for easy ways to relieve sudden stress or panic attacks and don't want to the help of someone, you could consider some apps on your phone or other stress relieving activities.
"There's a bunch of mindfulness apps that you can get on smartphones now. Headspace is one that I use personally. The app gives you breathing tips and tips for mindfulness and how to practice your deep breathing and starters to create journals so you can write about how you're feeling. Also, moderate your intake of the news. Reliving it, watching it happen every day can re-trigger re-traumatize you," advises Chilcott.