Disasters are natural, manmade or deliberately caused events, which have negative effects on life, property, and livelihood resulting in permanent changes in human societies. Disasters being highly disruptive cause human suffering, deprivation, hardship injury, and trauma disease and affect the mental health severely.

Effects Of Disasters And How To Cope Up With Disaster?

 Disasters have both physical and mental health components and consequences. Whether it is an airplane crash, bombings, terrorist attacks, earthquake, tsunami, or hurricanes, the consequential damage to life and property is endless. The effects of disasters are trauma producing and vary by severity. Every single person responds to shock but the way he or she respond differs

 There are anniversary reactions to disasters. These anniversary reactions are unresolved grief after significant looses. The reactions effect mental health as they involve several days or weeks of nightmares, fear, and anxiety. Being positive provides emotional healing during anniversary reaction as individuals try to work through the grieving process. Survivors of the disasters are mentally affected and the common reactions that take place are as follows. 

• Individuals may replay memories and repeated images of the trauma event that do not fade. They may have recurring dreams and nightmares about the event producing fear in their mind and hindering their day-to-day functioning.
•  People experience grief and sadness over the loss of property, income, home and loved ones. They may have intense feelings of loss and homesickness.
• Fear and anxiety may surround you after the event giving startled responses, shock, and vigilance for safety.
• Frustration guilt and anger of having lost their home and loved ones affects the mental health of the individuals interfering in the rebuilding and emotional healing after the disastrous event.
• The reflections of the events of disaster are the turning points in the healing process. It helps to recognize your goals and move ahead with them in order to renew your life. It is time to recognize the courage, build stamina with the support of your family and friend, and move ahead to abettor prospective.

 What can you do to cope up with disaster?

  Many things can be done to cope up with disastrous events.

 You should understand that reliving the feeling of disaster could lead to depression; panic attacks and has adverse effects on mental health. Therefore, you should try to recognize the thoughts as normal which each individual experiences after such an event and you are not the sole person.

 Try to keep to your usual routine of work and other activities.

• Take time to resolve day-to-day work and personal conflicts so that they do not add to your stress.
• Do not shy away from places and people that remind you of the tragic events.
• Find ways to relax and be generous towards yourself
• Try to participate in leisure and recreational activities.
• Recognize that something’s cannot be prevented.
• Talk to family and friends about your feelings, as they are the ones who lend emotional support during grief and stress.

 The severity of the event, exposure to the event and thoughts of death linger in some people even after months. Such symptoms should not be avoided and you should call the mental health clinic or a therapist to prevent mental health being affected further.

 What can you do for your child?

 Children are also affected from disastrous vents. They being sensitive should be dealt kindly. They should be made to understand that such events may be scary and traumatic and is okay to get upset. Words of reassurance and physical and mental support helps them to drive past the events. Involving them into activities and daily routine will help forget the traumas.

It is impossible to prevent disasters but it is always possible to plan ahead of time the various steps needed to minimize the impact of any disaster that affects the family’s mental health safety and property. The effects of disaster can be long lasting, the resulting trauma can affect those who are not directly affected by disaster but mental and physical support, and courage helps to combat adverse events.

Affects Of Disasters And How To Cope Up With Disaster? is a post from: Mental Health