Lesson 1121: Psychological Screening and Assessment After an Emergency
Duration:75 minutes
Topic Introduction (Overview):
In the initial stages of a sudden event, people are often in a state of high fear, confusion, numbness, or depression. These reactions are not "abnormal," but rather the psychological system's natural protective mechanisms under acute stress. However, the 72 hours to several weeks following the event are a critical window for psychological screening and assessment. If risk factors are identified during this stage (such as persistent hypervigilance, insomnia, intense flashbacks, feelings of helplessness, behavioral withdrawal, cognitive confusion, intrusive images, and excessive physical reactions), the likelihood of developing acute stress disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be significantly reduced.
Psychological screening is not about "judging who has a problem," but about helping each person rediscover their own state, including: emotional reactions, physical reactions, behavioral changes, thought disorder, sleep patterns, level of social support, and recovery of a sense of security. This course will guide you on how to distinguish between normal stress responses and signals requiring further evaluation, how to use basic screening questionnaires, and how to conduct gentle, non-invasive observations in a field or home environment. It will also introduce preliminary assessment procedures suitable for families, communities, schools, and institutions. A mandala is not about drawing something, but about observation—observing the texture of the response itself, observing the psychological turmoil hidden beneath the silence.
▲ AI Interaction: What is your "first reaction"?
To better observe your acute stress response, please write down the following information so that AI can assist you in analysis:
- ① What was your body's first reaction after the event? (Heart palpitations, chest tightness, numbness, trembling, etc.)
- ② What is the emotion that has most frequently occurred to you in the last three days?
- ③ Was there a moment when you felt like you "hadn't come back to life from the event"?
Screening is not a diagnosis, but rather a way to help you understand your own condition.
○ Psychological screening phase: Calming rhythm music method
Choose music with a stable rhythm and simple melody to allow your mind and body to slightly withdraw from continuous stimulation.
- Close your eyes while playing the music and notice if your breathing becomes more even with the music.
- If your attention keeps jumping around, it means your nervous system hasn't fully exited a state of alertness.
- Music is one of the gentlest ways to help screen for stress levels.
A mandala is not about drawing something, but about observing—observing how your body tells you: I am still recovering.
Aromatherapy Drinks: Tranquilizing Tea After Initial Screening
Recommended drinks:Longjing + Mint Green Tea (warm).
Longjing tea has a refreshing and invigorating effect, relieves tension, and alleviates the heaviness in the head after acute stress; peppermint can relax the respiratory tract, reduce chest pressure, and help you find a moment of clarity in the "brain fog state" after screening. This tea is suitable for drinking while observing yourself and processing your emotions.
Usage: Steep 2 grams of Longjing tea leaves and 2-3 mint leaves in warm water. Inhale slowly while drinking, feeling the grassy aroma fill your chest. Mandala is not about drawing something, but about observing—observing how the aroma helps you remain soft and clear during the screening process.
○ Chinese Food Therapy: Post-Stress Relief Soup - Lily and Lotus Seed Soup for Calming the Mind
Following an emergency, many people experience decreased appetite, chest heaviness, anxiety, and disrupted sleep. At this time, a mild and soothing soup is suitable. This lesson recommends Lily Bulb and Lotus Seed Soup for Calming the Mind: Lily bulbs moisten the lungs, relieve coughs, and calm the mind; lotus seeds strengthen the spleen and stomach, and soothe the soul. This soup is ideal for physical and mental recovery after acute stress.
Instructions: Simmer 10g of lily bulbs, 15g of lotus seeds, a small amount of rock sugar, and water together for 30 minutes, until soft and tender. This soup helps stabilize mood swings, improve sleep, and alleviate the fatigue caused by the body being constantly in "alert mode."
Dream Mandala Healing · Mi Xiangwen 1121 · After the Earthquake of the Heart
You dream that you are standing on ground that has just been shaken, with scattered bricks and tiles, and lingering dust in the air. Suddenly, subtle patterns light up beneath your feet, like the lines of a mandala, slowly emerging from the ground. They don't tell you the answer, but guide you to see clearly "what I am experiencing."
As you look outward along the lines, you realize they aren't chaotic, but guiding—helping you understand that the first thing to do after an earthquake isn't to flee, but to see if the ground beneath your feet is stable. A mandala isn't about drawing something, but about observation—observing the inner turmoil, observing the aftershocks, observing how you find your way back to stability.
[mandala_gallery1121]
○ Regular script calligraphy – “Stability, composure, and focus”
Regular script emphasizes structure and order, making it one of the most suitable writing styles after acute stress.
- Written words:Stable Mind
- English equivalent:Stability · Clarity · Heart
- hint:Take a breath after each character you write; exhale when you finish writing, making writing a part of "steady practice".
Lesson 1121: Psychological Screening - Mandala Viewing Guidance
Purpose:It allows you to identify the "post-earthquake texture" within your heart through observation.
Find a mandala with a dense center and gradually expanding outer circles. The center symbolizes the intensity of the event, and the outer circles symbolize the level of your recovery. First, look at the center and acknowledge that you were indeed impacted; then slowly move to the outer circles and observe how the texture widens, loosens, and brightens.
A mandala is not about drawing something, but about watching—watching yourself move from events back to your own center.
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○ 1121. Psychological Screening - Log Guidance Suggestions
① Write down your first three physical reactions after the event occurred.
② Write down the emotion that is hardest for you to control (you are not required to solve it).
③ Write down the one thing you most wanted to avoid in the past three days.
④ Write a sentence “I am recovering” and describe your smallest improvement.
⑤ Finally, write: "I am willing to continue to observe my true state."“
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The significance of psychological screening lies not in discovering problems, but in helping you rediscover your own state. May you find stability through observation.
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