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What To Expect On Release Ways to Handle Stress for Teenagers and Adults
When being released from prison, people go through a number of phases: Reentry may Exercise regularly and do not skip meals.
Phase 1: Joy of release and the relief to be out of prison. This can be one of the Avoid drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. Find ways to deal with your
last anywhere from a few hours to a week or two, depending on your hardest parts stress rather than covering it up.
resources. of your prison Avoid your stress triggers. If you know certain situations are
Phase 2: Depression sets in. You are overwhelmed by the changes and experience. going to stress you, try to avoid them or work to handle them differently.
unexpected reality. You may find yourself missing prison, the familiar Many people
routine and the old friends. can’t make the Take a break from stressful situations. Take a walk, listen to music, talk to a friend, draw,
write, or spend time with a pet to reduce stress.
Phase 3: The depression begins to lift as you start to cope with initial transition and
stressors. Your confidence increases and you believe your problems will will be back in Find friends who can help you cope in positive ways and not negative ways.
be solved. prison within Learn to talk about issues and be less agressive. Say: “I feel angry when you yell at me.”
Phase 4: Depression can set in again with the impact of long term three years. Or “Please stop yelling at me,” instead of “Shut up!” or “Stop talking!”
imprisonment, a lack of money or resources, people don’t want to forget Rehearse and practice for situations that cause stress. Practice at home before speaking
you were in prison, difficulties in getting a job can cause you to lose Don’t be afraid to in front of an audience, supervisor, or someone who makes you nervous.
confidence in yourself. You may feel tempted to return to your old ways. ask for support Break a large task into smaller, more manageable tasks if you feel overwhelmed.
Phase 5: If you have been able to “hang in there” and find work, you from agencies, Stop the negative self-talk. Say “My life will get better if I work at it and get some help”
are slowly able to “put the pieces together again” and to re-establish family and instead of “My life will never get any better.”
your life. friends. This is a Learn to feel good about doing a competent or “good enough” job. You don’t have to be
The Myth of Rehabilitation, Jo-Anne Steven, rough time. perfect, and shouldn’t expect it from others.
National Institute for Crime Prevention and Reintegration of Offenders (NICRO).
Stress from Traumatic Events Ways To Cope And Help Your Family With Traumatic Events
When we experience difficult and stressful situations such as a death in the What Can You Do For Yourself?
family, violence, community tragedies, or natural disasters, our stress will show
itself in many ways. Understand your symptoms are normal, especially right after the trauma.
Severe Physical Responses to Stress Keep to your usual routine.
Nausea - Dizziness - Change in appetite - Change in sleep patterns - Withdrawal Take the time to resolve day-to-day conflicts so they do not add to your stress.
from daily activities Do not shy away from situations, people, and places that remind you of the trauma.
Severe Emotional Responses to Stress Find ways to relax.
Feelings of fear - Grief - Depression Talk about your feelings and experiences with family, friends, and clergy for support.
This can be considered Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - an intense physical and emotional Recognize you cannot control everything.
response to thoughts and reminders of the event. These responses can last for many weeks or months Recognize the need for trained help and call a local mental health center.
after the traumatic event.
(Courtesy of the CDC Sept. 2016 -- www.bt.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/)
