Fires, Floods and Hurricanes | 3 Tips To Cope with Loss
Hurricanes, flooding and fires. Nearly 10,000 people were told to evacuate northeastern states due to flooding. The fires in Texas have left 1,000′s displaced from their homes. The daily news in the past three weeks has been a constant barrage of natural disasters. Our hearts break as we see many people in danger of loosing their homes.
Three Tips To Cope:
1. The basics: Sleep, rest, nutrition, and exercise. Proper rest and health set the stage to better handle life’s events.
2. Seek support: It is important to talk with others about what you are going through. Even if you do not feel stressed or depressed, support is crucial. Talking about traumas helps lessen the psychological impact of them. Being displaced from your home, feeling powerless and out of control, fear of loosing your life attempting to get to a safe place, and having your home destroyed are all traumas.
3. Avoid drugs and alcohol: While it may appear very tempting to want at least a temporary escape, drugs and alcohol actually stress the system. You most likely will need to remain vigilant for yourself and your family and friends. Alcohol and drugs will impair you, and you won’t make the best decisions. When someone drinks or uses substances to “not feel bad” this is dangerous.
While catastrophic fires, flooding and storms appear overwhelming, they also can bring communities together. There are resources to assist you. Learn about resources available to you. A good and trustworthy resource to begin with is The American Red Cross. Additionally, once you are in a safe and relatively stable position, helping others may help you as well.
If you or someone you know are struggling with depression or anxiety as a result of grief, contact a therapist or counselor for help.
If you are suffering from recent trauma please consider talking with a counselor specializing in trauma. The most effective short term therapies for PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a counselor trained in CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), EFT (Emotion Freedom Techniques), or EMDR. Call someone today to start the healing!
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