Cry, it's okay!

A yoga guru, an art of living expert and other mental health therapists tell you how to cope with the fear psychosis created by the terror attacks on our city.
Apart from the recent terror attacks on the city robbing it of its robust pace of life and the sheen that is so charmingly ‘Bambaiya’, it has also placed upon its citizens the necessity to be prepared in such times. For most people, there was no knowing what to do as they found their way out of the terror situations painstakingly.
Actor Arjun Rampal, who was bringing in his birthday at the Four Seasons Hotel with wife Mehr and friends, says he heard the explosions clearly. The actor weighed the situation and took the decision to spend the night at the hotel. “I’d advise people not to get too emotional at such times as you can hurt someone unknowingly in the bargain. We can’t react the way terrorists want us to,” he adds.
Psychologist Varkha Chulani seconds the thought. “Falling prey to fears can result in psychosomatic disorders, which can trigger high blood-pressure, strokes and even heart attacks.” Even if one is caught in a tense situation, the solution, she says, is to think of a pleasing picture. “Imagine yourself on a beach or with a loved one or even playing with a baby, it helps. It’s also healthy to cry and let yourself be human.”
For Life Coach Chhaya Momaya, the urgency of the situation demands that people bond with each other more than ever before. “Have dinners at each other’s homes,” she says, “Whether it is a small tea meeting or a potluck dinner. The idea is to meet and hear each other out. Remember that hearing and listening plays an important role in healing as it lifts a lot of negativity off one’s chest.”
She also advises people to do small things for themselves like getting a head massage, to relax the person. “Even checking into a day spa is a good idea,’ she adds.
Art of Living instructor, Rhea Pillai has her take on how the situation can be dealt with. She says, “When the pain is so extreme, there are times when acceptance of knowledge becomes difficult. I find then that deep breathing has the power to take you from one step to another, from one day to the next, till the system readies itself to re-adjust, re-learn and recover.”
Yoga, probably one of the most powerful modes of mind and body healing, can play a crucial role to bring about normalcy in an individual’s life. “The very crux of yoga is to look outward and open up to accept the world around him or her better,” states yoga and fitness expert Shraddha Setalvad. “So many asanas — like the Suryanamaskar (salutation to the sun), which helps you draw energy from the light and heat and the Adha Mukha Swan (dog pose), that roots you to the ground — can bring one out of the mood of feeling low and depressed.”
One also finds it tough to explain the terrible attacks to children. Psychotherapist Seema Hingorrany has a word of advice on that. “Children are smart and inquisitive, so the situation needs to be explained to them in a child-like manner. One should control their television viewing too as the acts of violence they see might make them develop different kinds of phobias.”