HURRICANE MATTHEW: RECOVERY AND YOUR HEALTH (1292 hits)
Disasters, whether natural, man-made, or technological, all have the potential to affect psychological health. Many effects are common to all types of disaster. However, research findings from specific disasters, such as earthquakes and floods, show that each can also have unique consequences for the mental health of survivors.
Hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes tend to cause a range of effects depending on their severity. After disasters of this type, the impairment of most survivors is moderate. Effects may be prolonged but do not usually meet criteria for a mental disorder. However, in a significant minority of research studies on disasters of water and wind, at least 25% of the survivors had symptoms of a diagnosable disorder. Symptoms usually peak during the first year, and in the vast majority of cases, survivors get better with time after the disaster.
Stress from such traumatic events is normal, but sometimes it can feel overwhelming. Help is available for you during this difficult time.
What You Should Know
Most people who live through disasters will feel some level of distress. Anxiety, sadness, sleeplessness, shock and other emotional and physical reactions are common after traumatic events. Learning about stress and strategies to manage it can help you cope successfully.
Stress reactions can appear immediately or may not appear for weeks or even months. Memories of previous traumatic experiences may also re-surface. Those directly affected are more likely to have stronger reactions. Most reactions to stress are temporary, and most people will recover with time and support.
What You Should Do
Don’t hesitate to ask for help any time you feel overwhelmed. Friends or family members may not feel the stress the same way you do – it’s how you feel that matters in deciding to ask for help.
Take Care of Yourself
◦Seek out support from others: family, friends, community ◦Get enough sleep. ◦Eat regular, healthy meals and stay physically active. ◦Avoid drinking alcohol excessively or using drugs or tobacco to help you cope. ◦Remember, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed. Try to break down large tasks into small, manageable pieces and focus on daily progress. ◦Make time to reflect, meditate or pray. ◦Even if you are very busy putting things back together, find time for activities you enjoy.
Take Care of Your Children
◦Provide a sense of safety and trust. ◦Assure children they are safe and taken care of. ◦Limit exposure to images and information about the hurricane that they are taking in from TV and other sources. ◦Talk about the event but tell children only as much as they need to know, in a way they can understand. ◦Answer their questions as calmly as possible and correct any misunderstandings about the event. ◦Be a role model for steadiness and hopefulness. ◦Reach out to others for help if stress or irritability is affecting your interactions with your children.
Resources
LIFENET
If you feel overwhelmed and unable to cope, if stress is interfering with daily functioning, or if you are concerned about someone else, call 1-800 LIFENET, 24 hours/7 days a week: •1-800-543-3638 (English) •1-877-298-3373 (Spanish) •1-877-990-8585 (Chinese) •1-212-982-5284 (TTY).
