It is generally agreed that the impact of any tragic event lasts for a long time after the event. And so some people may continue to suffer the consequences of the Boston Marathon Bombing even as that horrible event fades into the past. Stress, especially oxidative stress which is not necessarily overtly observable, may continue to wreak havoc on the body while we otherwise appear to be functioning normally.

Oxidative stress in many cases is triggered by external environmental conditions such as mass murders, pollution, working conditions and many other situations that may render the body’s normal state of equilibrium unstable. Typical symptoms of this instability is expressed as day-to-day stress but this stress can lead to a condition known as oxidative stress that occurs at the cellular level. Without getting into too much of the technicalities, suffice it to say that oxidative stress impairs the normal functioning of cells which in turn triggers the release of an avalanche of malformed free radicals. Should these free radicals prevail against available antioxidants, illnesses such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and gastrointestinal disorders may develop.

The problem with oxidative stress is that we can’t be sure when it is present in our bodies so while the people of Boston and those involved in the marathon in general may seem to be getting back to normal, a killer in the form of oxidative stress may be lurking below. Therefore to minimize any deleterious effect of this condition, it is recommended that the following steps are taken to help return the body to a state of peace.

1. Accept that the bombings occurred and begin immediately to focus on the future. Do not sit everyday obsessing about the bombings. This will only keep your stress levels elevated.

2. If you are not a part of a community or social group, join one. Your associates or friends in such groupings will help you talk through the event so that you can experience some form of catharsis

3. Engage in some form of physical activity or sport. These activities have magical ways of taking our minds away from whatever is bothering us.

4. Attend church services. This is especially helpful for religious minded individuals, but even non religious persons can benefit tremendously from attending and participating in church services.

5. Travel. I often find that when I travel I am able to free my mind from many things that are bothering me or in some cases even come up with solutions to problems

6. Care for someone else. Caring for others often allow us to put aside many of our own worries, but more importantly when you care for others they will likewise care for you which is often what is needed in a crisis.

7. Help someone you don’t know. Oh man, what a great feeling – knowing that you just helped a total stranger.

8. Focus on happy experiences in your life rather than the unhappy ones like the bombings.

9. Write. Yes write. Write letters of condolences to those who lost their love ones, letters of congratulations to the various public officers and volunteers who help during the tragedy, write letters to friends and family members. Writing is an excellent way to get in touch with your feelings and get some emotional release at the same time.

10. Get out. Move about and feel the freedom to be alive. This is your live. Live it!

The Boston Marathon Bombings were agreeably senseless acts of terror, but we must not allow the impact to be any greater than what has already occurred. If we allow menaces like oxidative stress to prevail then we are allowing the bombers to win even bigger. Let’s stop oxidative stress and all the other wicked illnesses it spawns by engaging in some stress busting activities that will allow our bodies to enjoy a relative state of equilibrium.