by Jim Kendall, LCSW
The devastation resulting from recent hurricanes, torrential rains, and raging flood waters throughout many states fill us with sadness and feeling of helplessness. The images are emotionally powerful as homes, cities, roads, and bridges were destroyed. We have VUMC colleagues who work remotely who reside in these impacted areas. Many of our employees also have family and friends living in affected communities. Our hearts hurt for them. Those who have experienced similar trauma from previous disasters, including floods, tornados, derechos, fires, and other tragedies, may have been re-traumatized, even if they were sparred the anguish this time. The mind and body experience the emotional reaction as trauma.
Individuals who lost people, homes, or had lives disrupted by natural disasters may still be working through the natural grieving process. Emotions from past loss can resurface with anxiety or fear of recurrence. These feelings are normal, especially when inclement weather events are predicted in the future.
Here are five reminders of the emotional impact of such events and how to cope:
- Not everyone will experience the same feelings, even if they experienced the same event.
- You may experience intrusive images and feelings when you least expect it.
- Emotional distress, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, sleep disorder, and suicidal ideation have been reported as mental health problems experienced by victims after storms and other severe weather events.
- It may help you to take some action to regain a feeling of contribution and control. Help others by volunteering to help clean up or donating to local assistance organizations.
- Be informed, but not obsessed.
Take some moments to reflect upon the experience and credit yourself for your resilience to have endured this hardship. If you are finding that memories of this or previous storms, tornados, or other losses have challenged your usual coping abilities, call Work/Life Connections-EAP at 615-936-1327 and make a confidential appointment to meet with one of our clinical counselors in our office or virtually.
