Mental Coping Strategies During Hurricane Season and Other Natural Disasters

The anxiety and distress for people living in the path of a hurricane can be overwhelming. Uncertainty about living arrangements, work schedules and other life tasks increase when people are evacuated. Legitimate concerns about damage and destruction to homes, streets and infrastructure accelerate in the midst of constant news about the storm. An important step is to recognize common emotional reactions while physically preparing for impending changes. On the 29th of August, 2005 Hurricane Katrina made landfall in New Orleans. I was a first responder to the disaster, and arrived in the area a week after the storm. I found myself in the midst of devastation that I had only seen in movies. More than 13 years later as we find ourselves in another potentially devastating hurricane season, it is important to remember that as with any stressful event, the storm can affect individuals in several areas. Physically it can cause disturbed sleep and appetite, aches and pains; psychologically there will be fear, anxiety, loss and sadness; cognitively, concentration and thinking may be affected; behaviorally many will become impatient and irritable towards others; and spiritually many will question why the storm has happened.    Children may have their own set of reactions to the storm. Young children (e.g., preschool) take their cues from the adults around them so monitoring your reactions is important; be a role model for calm behavior. Clingy behavior or other regressive reaction...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Anxiety and Panic Children and Teens Depression Psychology PTSD Self-Help Stress Trauma bedwetting Coping Skills hurricane Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Michael hurricane season Natural Disaster Nightmares Posttraumatic Stres Source Type: blogs