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Writer's pictureTRIAD MHA

Coping With Disaster

Updated: Oct 18


A message from Andy Hagler, Executive Director


Western North Carolina has been hit extremely hard by the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. It is heartwarming to see all of the outpouring of help and hope from friends –near and afar – during this time. The stories of rescue, the providing basic needs and assistance to those who have lost everything brings encouragement that we are all united in helping our friends, families and loved ones – even those we do not know --during their time of critical need. There have been many, many people living up to a familiar quote by Mr. Rodgers: “Look for the helpers!” The recovery process, while still unfathomable, will take years, long after media attention has died down. We are all trying in our own way to make sense of what happened. During and after a disaster, it is natural to experience different and strong emotions. Such events can create a tremendous amount of stress and anxiety for those directly and even for those

indirectly affected and we may begin to experience some of these more common reactions:

  • Grief due to a myriad of losses – the loss of a loved one or friend, the loss of one’s home, the loss of personal possessions such as photographs or those material items that have fond, special memories

  • Disbelief and shock

  • Fear and anxiety about the present and about the future

  • Disorientation: difficulty making decisions or concentrating – including the financial strains associated with disasters

  • Apathy and emotional numbing

  • Nightmares and reoccurring thoughts about the event

  • Irritability and anger

  • Sadness and depression

  • Feeling powerless, overwhelmed; the loss of being ‘in control’

  • Changes in eating patterns; loss of appetite or overeating

  • Crying for no apparent reason

  • Headaches, back pains and stomach problems

  • Difficulty sleeping or falling asleep

  • Increased use of alcohol and drugs


Tips for Coping


It is “normal” to have difficulty managing your feelings after a major traumatic event.

However, if you don’t deal with stress, it can be harmful to your mental and physical

health.


Below are some tips for coping during these very difficult times:

  • Talk about it. By talking with others about the event, you can relieve stress and realize that others share your thoughts and feelings.

  • Spend time with supportive friends and family. They can help you through this tough time. If your support system lives outside the area, stay in touch by phone or electronically. If you have children, encourage them to share their

    concerns and feelings about the disaster with you.

  • Take care of yourself. As best as you can, try to get plenty of rest and exercise and eat properly. If you smoke or drink coffee, try to limit your intake, since nicotine and caffeine can also add to your stress.

  • Limit exposure to images of the disaster. Watching or reading news or looking at social media about the event over and over again will only increase your stress. This is particularly true for young people.

  • Find time for activities you enjoy.  As best as you can, find or do something that you enjoy, that works for you and in a healthy way. Healthy activities can help you get your mind off the disaster – even for a little while -- and keep the stress in check.

  • Take one thing at a time. For people under stress, an ordinary workload can sometimes seem unbearable. During this time of disaster, the workload can be enormous due to multiple decisions that may need to be made. Pick one urgent task and work on it. Once you accomplish that task, choose the next one. “Checking off” tasks will give you a sense of accomplishment and can help things feel less overwhelming.

  • Do something positive. Give blood, prepare “care packages” for people who have lost relatives or their homes or jobs, or volunteer in a rebuilding effort. Helping other people can give you a sense of purpose in a situation that feels ‘out of your control.’

  • Avoid drugs and excessive drinking. Drugs and alcohol may temporarily seem to remove stress, but in the long run they generally create additional problems that compound the stress you were already feeling.

  • Ask for help when you need it. If you have strong feelings that won’t go away or if you are troubled for longer than four to six weeks, you may want to seek professional help. People who have existing mental health problems and those who have survived past trauma may also want to check in with a mental health care professional. Being unable to manage your responses to the disaster and resume your regular activities may be symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a real and treatable illness. Help is available. Make an appointment with a mental health professional to discuss how well you are coping with recent events. You could also join a support group. Don’t try to cope alone. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness.


 Don’t forget that children are impacted by disasters too. Children and even

young adults are and will be impacted by the disaster associated with Hurricane

Helene such as:

  •  Loss of a friend or family member

  •  Disruptions in daily life and routine

  •  Disruptions in school or college life

  •  Disruptions being with friends, peers

  •  Disruptions in community activities, extracurricular activities


Encourage children to talk about their feelings and reassure them that they are safe. Use appropriate language depending on the child’s age and stage of development. Encourage children to help out and volunteer in a safe

environment, whenever possible. Look out for signs that the effects from Hurricane Helene may be impacting children negatively such as: withdrawal, aggressiveness, frequent crying, nightmares, reckless behavior or other

behaviors that are not “typical” of your child.


If you suspect that your child may need help, take it seriously and consult with

your child’s pediatrician, family doctor or with your child’s school counselor or

with a local mental health professional.


Additional Resource:

The National Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH), a component of the 988 National

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, is available 24/7 by calling or texting:  1-800-985-5990;

for Spanish, press “2”.   This service is dedicated to providing crisis counseling and

support 24/7/365 for anyone in the U.S./territories experiencing emotional distress or

other mental health concerns related to any natural or human-caused disaster. Callers

can connect with DDH hotline counselors in 100+ additional languages via third-party

interpretation services. People who are Deaf or hard of hearing can use the text option,

or for TTY, use their preferred Relay service or dial 7-1-1 and then 1-800-985-5990.


Local Resource:

The Mental Health Association in Forsyth County, a local non-profit, non-governmental

agency, can help people find the help, services and support they need. Our focus is not

exclusively limited to Forsyth County, NC. Part of our mission is to help people in need

find the mental health and related services and support they need – whether now or

down the road. Feel free to give us a call at 336-768-3880.

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