(Source: Spencer Hospital Blog posted on Friday, July 19, 2024)
Common Emotional Responses Following a Disaster
People can experience a range of emotions such as feeling physically and mentally drained, having difficulty making decisions, becoming easily frustrated, or feeling sad, lonely, or worried. These reactions are normal responses to challenging situations.
It’s crucial for families and friends to stay connected and supportive. For children, who may feel frightened or confused after a disaster, adults should provide reassurance, encourage open communication, and help them understand that their feelings are valid and temporary.
Signs That Children Might Be Struggling
Children may show signs like increased agitation, clinginess, or changes in behavior. It’s important for parents and caregivers to offer reassurance, listen actively to their concerns, and provide opportunities for them to express their feelings in a safe environment.
Survivors’ Guilt Affects Individuals
Disasters strike randomly. A flood might devastate one family’s home while leaving another nearby untouched. Such situations are hard to comprehend, and empathy can lead survivors to question why they were spared. Feeling guilty after surviving a disaster that affected many lives is common. Recognizing this is an important initial step toward overcoming such emotions, and it’s OK to seek help in processing your feelings.
Taking Care of Your Emotional Health
Taking care of emotional health involves several steps: prioritizing safety and physical health, maintaining routines as much as possible, eating healthy, getting adequate rest, and seeking support from family and friends. It’s also beneficial to limit exposure to media coverage of the disaster to manage stress levels.
When Should You Seek Help
If feelings such as prolonged sadness, difficulty sleeping or eating, or increased substance use persist for two weeks or more, it’s advisable to seek professional assistance. Therapists and counselors can provide strategies to manage stress and facilitate recovery.
There are some great helplines that can provide immediate assistance. 988 is the national suicide & crisis support line. Seasons Center has a 24-hour crisis/talk line that can be reached at 844-345-4569, and readers can also call the Iowa Concern Line at 800-447-1985, Your Life Iowa at 855-581-8111, and the disaster distress hotline at 800-985-5990 for emotional distress related to natural disasters. All of these resources and more can be found at yourlinc.org.