According to Merriam-Webster, “resilience” means “the ability to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens” or “the ability of something to return to its original shape after it has been pulled, stretched, pressed, bent, etc.”[1] Natural disasters can strike within a matter of minutes, but the damage they leave behind is enduring. In the wake of a disaster, it is easy to focus on cleaning up the physical damage that was left behind. However, when you are exercising your resiliency by putting your life, or your family’s life, back to its “original shape” don’t only focus on the physical damage the disaster left behind. It is equally important to pay attention to your mental health after a disaster even if you are the most resilient person in the world. In fact, in doing so, you would be proving your resilience.
Stress is Normal, but Know When to Get Help
You will feel stress after a disaster and everyone reacts differently. It is customary to experience shock, increased anxiety, sleeping difficulties, reoccurring thoughts of the disaster, and feelings of anger and sadness, but know that these feelings are temporary. If you are a parent your children will have these feelings as well, but also may be confused on what is going on and what will happen in the future.[2]
While it is normal to feel stress, it is important to lookout for persistent signs of serious problems such as:[3]
- Persistent anxiety, sadness, fear, and/or confusion
- Excessive crying
- Ongoing anger, irritability, arguing
- Frequent voluntary isolation from others
- Continual decision-making and concentration issues
- Increased alcohol and/or substance consumption
- Recurrent physical ailments, like headaches, and nerve issues
If these signs are meddling with your or a loved one’s everyday functioning it is vital to seek help.[4]
Where to Get Help
Asking for help is not always easy, but in doing so you are exercising your resilience. To receive assistance you should:
- Find support from your family and friends
- Join a local support group
- Contact your or your loved one’s health care provider
- Contact your or your loved one’s religious minister/counselor
- Contact your or your loved one’s mental health professional
- Contact the Disaster Distress Helpline, a national hotline that provides 24/7 multilingual crisis counseling for disaster victims experiences emotional distress. This helpline can be reached via phone at 1-800-985-5990 and SMS by texting ‘TalkWithUs’ to 66746. Spanish Speakers call 1-800-985-5990 and press “2”
- Nebraskans who live on a farm or ranch can contact the Rural Response Hotline at 800-464-0258 for mental health assistance as well.
- Please seek help immediately if you or a loved one is having suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harm by calling:
- The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or Suicidepreventionlifeline.org,
- Boys Town National Hotline 800-448-3000
How to Take Care of Yourself and Your Loved Ones
You may feel like you have lost all control over your life after a disaster, but there are some healthy choices that you can control going forward that will help you come through resilient:[5]
- Turn off the news. By watching the repeated footage, you may be reliving or re-traumatizing yourself to the event.
- Get enough sleep. This may be difficult after a disaster. You don’t want to force yourself if you are not tired, but try to limit your screen time and alcohol and caffeinated beverages before you are going to bed.
- Eat healthy and regularly. Be sure to drink lots of fluids and eat a balanced diet during stressful times.
- Seek medical attention if necessary. Don’t ignore your or your loved one’s physical health.
- Have patience and be comfortable with change. There is going to be a lot of change in your life after a disaster. You may have to move, change jobs, or schools. Your business, churches, or other favorite spots in town may have been destroyed or are temporarily closed.
- Create a routine. Following a disaster you may feel like you have no control over your life. Scheduling your day can give you some control and normalcy back in your life. Even if it is little things like when you will eat meals and exercise.
Don’t forget that resilience is an ability, and if you have never needed it before the disaster, you can develop and master it after one. You can pull your life and your loved ones lives back to its “original shape” if you stay positive, seek help, and don’t give up.
[1] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resilience
[2] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Admin., Coping with Traumatic Events, (last updated Aug 25, 2011), http://media.samhsa.gov/MentalHealth/TraumaticEvent.aspx?from=carousel&position=1&date=3112011
[3] Id.
[4] Id.
[5] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Admin., Coping Tips for Disaster and Traumatic Events, (last updated April 9, 2015), http://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline/coping-tips