Former ICU Nurse Reveals How Friends and Family Can Help Survivors of Mass Shootings Heal

LOMA LINDA, Calif., March 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Nurse Carmelita Kinjo has dealt with many patients with PTSD in both the ICU, ER and psychiatric units she worked during her 20-year career. Moreover, she gained personal insights into the condition through life with her husband, a civilian employee with the Army during the Vietnam War who was traumatized by what he saw there, and a daughter who was attacked by a mental patient when she was in middle school.

In her desire to help others, Kinjo feels compelled to share her knowledge with school children, their parents and friends affected by the Parkland school shooting and other similar incidents that are bound to occur. "My heart goes out to all the victims, their loved ones, friends, concerned teachers as well as the community leaders and neighbors," Kinjo says. Indeed, it was an earlier mass shooting that took place in San Bernardino, Calif. that compelled Kinjo to begin writing her book, Stop the Pain: God's Answer to My Unanswered Prayer and an accompanying workbook (Xulon Press).

While everyone is different, Kinjo says common symptoms teens at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School may face in coming days include sleeplessness, anger, inability to concentrate, survivor's guilt, grief, flashbacks, and nightmares?symptoms that need to be addressed in order for survivors to move on in time. She urges entire families affected to get counseling, not just the students themselves. She notes that parents, family members and friends spend way more time with victims than counselors who may, at best, spend an hour or two with them. "It's important for these kids to have a strong support system that includes not only their families but also the community, and church," she notes.

"Listening without commenting is also important," she adds. "Don't be quick to give advice. Pay attention to how they are coping or not coping and let them go through the grieving process at their own speed.

"It's also important for families to get together and do fun things and at the end of the day to discuss what made everyone happy. You cannot forget what happened but you can redirect those moments of anger [you are likely to experience] positively," she says.

About the author
Carmelita Kinjo spent 20 years working as a critical nurse in California and nearly as long working in holistic health care in Japan with American and Japanese missionary doctors. Stop the Pain is her first book.

Availability: Loma Linda., Calif., nationwide by arrangement and via telephone

Contact: Carmelita Kinjo, (909) 520-4235 cell; (909) 253-1394; [email protected], www.Myjourneytowholeness.org

SOURCE Carmelita Kinjo