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Disasters can destory emotional stability

Disaster can destroy more than people's property: They can undermine your sense of emotional stability and generate a sense of loss, fear and anger that might especially be strong among children. North Carolina Cooperative Extension offers this advice to disaster victims, their friends and family members:

• Focus on what's really important, remembering that your spouse's viewpoint on what should be considered top priority could be different from yours.
• Accept that both physical and emotional restoration take time; things won't instantly go back to the way they were before the disaster.
• Realize that disaster victims suffered losses, and it's natural for them to express disbelief, anger, sadness, anxiety and depression and for their emotions and moods to change unexpectedly.
• Recognize that stress takes its toll not only on those hit directly by a disaster but on those who made it through physically unscathed. Mental health experts say the unscathed often suffer from "survivor's guilt" and can push themselves to their limits trying to help. Children can be especially hard-hit by disaster; their resentment over shattered routines can lead to enormous guilt, nightmares, temper tantrums and school problems.

The key to dealing with after-disaster trauma is to understand the natural grieving process -- denial, questioning, acceptance and recovery -- after the loss of normalcy, loved ones and property.

Some signs of stress in adults are 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 decision-making; excessive helpfulness to other disaster victims; appetite loss; crying for no apparent reason; increased effects from allergies, colds and flu; rejecting or feeling disappointed with outside help; isolation from family, friends and social activities; and domestic violence.

Post-disaster trauma signs don't always show up right away; sometimes, it takes months for emotional effects to appear. Recovery time varies, too.

Cooperative Extension offers the following suggestions for adults dealing with 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.

For more information, contact your county Cooperative Extension center or visit the Web site http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/disaster.

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Prepared by the Department of Communication Services, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Updated September 3, 2008 — dfc

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