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 Storm
Survival
Center
Experts say waiting for a hurricane can produce plenty of
anxiety even if the storm never shows up. However there are several things you
can do to help alleviate the stress, for you and your loved ones.
Coping with Anxiety
- Prepare as best you can. Taking action to protect yourself or your family
can help restore a sense of control.
- Try some exercise. It'll help relieve stress build-up.
- Realize nerves may be on edge. Be patient.
- Accept that the storm will do what it wants.
- Be safe, but don't feel as if you have to put everything in your life on
hold. Go about your normal business as much as possible.
If the storm actually hits, there is a chance it will
destroy people's property and their sense of emotional stability. The sense of
loss, fear, and anger may be especially strong among children. Keep these things
in mind:
- Determine what's really important, keeping in mind that your spouse's
viewpoint on what should be considered top priority may be different from
yours.
- Don't expect things to instantly restore themselves. Accept that
restoration takes time, (both physical and emotional).
- Realize that the other members of your family are disaster victims also,
they have suffered losses too, and it's natural for them to express
disbelief, anger, sadness, anxiety and depression afterwards.
- Realize that the emotions of victims will roller coaster and mood can
change unexpectedly. This applies to your own state of mind, as well as
the rest of your family.
- The hurricane is gone. But if your psyche seems to be as much in need of
repair as your shredded home, you've got emotional stress.
Post-Hurricane Trauma
The signs of post-hurricane trauma are not always
immediate; the emotional effects may not appear for months. Recovery time varies
as well.
Stress takes its toll not only on those hit directly by
the storm, but also on those who made it through physically unscathed. Mental
health experts say the unscathed often suffer "survivor's guilt.''
People suffering survivor's guilt often push themselves to
the limit trying to help. Children, in particular, resent the shattering of
their routine. That resentment may manifest itself in enormous guilt,
nightmares, temper tantrums and problems at school.
The key to dealing with trauma after the storm is to
understand that there is a natural grieving process -- denial, questioning,
acceptance and recovery -- after the loss of normalcy, loved ones and property.
Signs of Stress in Adults
- Fear, disbelief, suspicion, anger, anxiety or apathy.
- Short temper, moodiness and irritability.
- Reluctance to abandon property.
- Guilt over having been unable to prevent the disaster.
- Confusion, numbness and flashbacks.
- Difficulty in making decisions.
- Excessive helpfulness to other disaster victims.
- Loss of appetite.
- Crying for no apparent reason.
- Increased effects from allergies, colds and flu.
- Rejecting outside help or feeling disappointed with outside help.
- Isolation from family, friends and social activities.
- Domestic violence.
How to Cope with Adult Stress
- Recognize and accept your feelings -- and realize you're not alone.
- Talk to others, including family, friends or clergy, about your feelings.
- Be patient -- accept that restoring your life to normalcy will take time.
- Keep family meals as nourishing and on as much of a routine as possible.
- Get as much sleep as possible.
- Relax -- a deep breath and vigorous stretch helps reduce tension and
stress.
- Whenever possible, do something enjoyable -- read a book, go to the
movies.
- Walk or jog.
- Hug your family and friends -- affection and touching can be soothing.
- If your stress symptoms persist, seek professional help.
Signs of Stress in Children
Head and stomach aches.
- Reluctance to go to bed.
- Insomnia and recurring nightmares sparked by fear that the hurricane will
return.
- Regressive behavior such as bed-wetting, thumb-sucking and clinging to
parents.
- Fantasies that the hurricane never happened.
- Withdrawal.
- Temper tantrums, crying and screaming.
- Shortened attention span, plummeting school performance or refusal to
attend school.
- Loss of appetite.
- Loss of interest in playing.
- Drug and alcohol use by older children.
How to Help Your Child Cope
- Like you, children are scared. Understand their fears -- real or imagined
-- and reassure them they are safe. Extra attention and hugs are
important.
- Allow children to express their feelings in conversations, drawings or
activities. Children sometimes think scary things will go away if they
block them out.
- Share your feelings with your children; let them know their feelings are
normal.
- Answer questions thoughtfully. Take extra time to make sure the
explanation is simple and open for discussion.
- Be patient.
- Let children know they are not responsible for the disaster. Tell them
how being a prepared member of the family helped everyone feel safe.
- Allow children to help in the cleanup. Children who feel they belong are
likely to feel more self-assured.
- Give extra doses of praise for good behavior.
- Resume your normal routine as quickly as possible. Provide the same
snacks you used to. Make time for family activities such as playing games.
- Encourage children to help those less fortunate than themselves. Allow
them to prepare food, clothing and other items for donations.
- If your children continue to show stress signs, seek professional help.
Your children's stress may be more than you can handle.
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Last Revised: November 01, 2006 03:45 PM. |
