Experts Offer Ways To Cope With Emotions Following Days Of Protests, Looting Around Country

Stephanie Stahl reports.

SCHUYLKILL RIVER.THE CLOSURES REMAIN IN EFFECTUNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.LIVING IN WHAT FEELS LIKEA WAR ZONE, THAT IS WHAT MANYPEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY ANDIN THE PHILADELPHIA REGION ARETHINKING AND FEELING.WE ARE SURROUNDED BY ANGER ANDFEAR.EXPERTS SAY IT'S IMPORTANT TOFIND PERSPECTIVE AND WAYS TOMOVE FORWARD IN HARMONY.HEALTH REPORTER STEPHANIESTAHL IS HERE WITH THAT PARTOF STORY.Reporter: SOME FEEL THEVIOLENCE AND LOOTING THAT HASCOME WITH THE PROTESTS DERAILTHE MISSION.FRUSTRATIONS ARE MOUNTING ANDTHEN THERE ARE THE BUSINESSOWNERS WHO FEEL VIOLATED FIRSTRESPONDERS ARE OVERWHELMED,EXPERTS SAY EMOTIONS AREOVERFLOWING.SIGNS OF CHAOS EVERYWHERE.BOARDED UP BUILDINGS, FIRES,PROTESTS CONTINUING.THIS FOLLOWS A WEEKEND WHENTHE STREETS OF PHILADELPHIAWERE FILLED WITH PEOPLECALLING FOR JUSTICE FOR GEORGEFLOYD, ALSO TO RAISE AWARENESSABOUT OPPRESSION.THERE ARE A LOT OFINCIDENTS THAT ARE HAPPENINGNOW AND HAVE BEEN HAPPENINGFOR A LONG TIME AND THERE'S ALOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEENDEALING WITH ANXIETY, THEHURT, THE ANGER FOR THEMAJORITY OF THEIR LIFE FORCENTURIES ESPECIALLY GOINGBACK TO SLAVERY.Reporter: DR. GEORGEJAMES WITH THE COUNCIL FORRELATIONSHIPS SAYS PROTESTSWITH THE BEST OF INTENTIONSFOR CHANGE CAN BE DISRUPTEDAND TURN VIOLENT BECAUSEEMOTIONS ARE SO RAW.LOOTING ANOTHER BY PRODUCT,CRIMES OF OPPORTUNITY.AND THAT IS UNFORTUNATEBECAUSE IT DOES TAKE AWAY FROMTHE LAMPER MESSAGE OFINJUSTICE OF RACISM OF THINGS,OF BEING HURT, OF PAIN THATPEOPLE ARE REALLY TRYING TOSHED LIGHT ON.Reporter: DR. JAMES SAYSEMPATHY AND ACCOUNTABILITYWILL BE A IMPORTANT PART OFREBUILDING EMOTIONALLY.A LOT OF IT IS GOING TO BETHROUGH EDUCATING YOURSELF,BEING ABLE TO READ ANDUNDERSTAND HISTORY OFINJUSTICE, LONG TERM PAIN THATPEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED ANDNOT NEGATE IT AND BEING ABLETO UNDERSTAND THAT, PUTYOURSELF IN THOSE SITUATIONSOR UNDERSTAND THAT THAT COULDBE TRUE AND BEING WILLING TOSAY WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?NOT JUST FEEL THAT BUT TO DOAND BE ABLE TO MAKE ADIFFERENCE.Reporter: AND EMOTIONALLYEXPERTS SAY IT'S ALSOIMPORTANT TO LIMIT EXPOSURE TOUPSETTING MATERIAL AND FOCUSON THINGS YOU CAN CONTROL ANDACTIVITIES THAT MAKE YOU HAPPYOR ARE AT LEAST DISTRACTING.