The destruction of hurricane Sandy has left in the path widespread visible damages. Equally traumatic is managing the stress in the aftermath of a hurricane or a natural disaster. Emotions are running high anticipating the arrival of the hurricane and the distress afterwards. The length in recovery depends on how bad the hurricane was, whether evacuations were necessary, the extent of the damage and loss. Some families can go back to their normal routine. Others face financial hardships, finding medical care and assess damage repair on the home. “Children’s recovery will be influenced by how their parents and caregivers cope during and after the hurricane…children do best when parents remain or appear calm.” Understand that sometimes individuals with pre-existing emotional and behavioral issues can get worse if their support systems fail, run out of medications or their routine destabilizes.
Below are tips from the American Psychological Association on effectively coping with your thoughts, feelings and behaviors.
1. Recognize this is a difficult time that you can work through. You have overcome other hardships in the past.
2. Allow yourself to mourn the losses you have experienced.
3. Take a break from watching the news. Watching the footage of the hurricane can increase your stress.
4. Ask for support from those who care about you, but keep in mind those close to you may also have experienced the hurricane and the support system might be weakened.
5. When you are ready, talk to family, close friends or other forms of self-expression as a source of comfort.
Sources:
American Psychological Association. “Managing Traumatic Stress: After the Hurricanes.” Managing Traumatic Stress: After the Hurricanes. N.p., 2012. Web. 01 Nov. 2012. <http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/hurricane-stress.aspx>.
National Child Traumatics Stress Network. “Natural Disasters Hurricanes.” National Child Traumatic Stress Network. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2012. <http://nctsn.org/trauma-types/natural-disasters/hurricanes>.