If they have been cyberbullied or are in an abusive or coercive relationship, encourage the young person to keep messages as proof, block the person sending the messages or posts, and have time away from technology for a break. Remind them that they should not share anything online or via messages that they would not want to be made public (294). Let the young person set the pace. Encouraging a young person to share their experience may cause them to revisit or relive their trauma. If they are ready and do want to talk, don’t interrupt to share your own feelings, experiences, or opinions. This is true even if you are feeling angry or upset with the situation (295). Offer reassurance that how they might be feeling is a normal response. Explain that it is not unusual for reactions such as anger, shock, sadness, or numbness to continue for days or even weeks after a traumatic event or reoccurring incidents of abuse or bullying. Don’t trivialise their feelings and don’t ask them not to cry or to calm down. Treatment: Psychological therapies , CBT . Not every young person will need professional help to recover from a traumatic event. However, if a stress reaction persists for more than a month, they should seek professional help. If a young person has been abused or bullied, they may need to talk to a counsellor or therapist right away. Other supports: Self-care strategies in a safe environment can help a young person feel more relaxed. Family and friends are a very important source of support for a young person who may have been, or felt, isolated from others. If a young person is being bullied or in an abusive relationship, provide appropriate organisations to reach out to, such as Childline , who have a chat function. For specific helpful
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