Disaster Response

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Disaster Mental Health

Natural and man-made disasters have strong effects on the entire population - from those who have personal experiences, to family members, to hearing about it on the news, we are all affected. Prepare ahead of time (For example, see The American Red Cross information on kits for the home, office and car). Give yourself permission to turn off the news unless it is of immediate personal, life or death importance.  See if you can find other ways to stay connected with others during this painful time.  It is not helpful to re-injure your psyche by keeping the news on all day.  Worry is not an action. 

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Disaster Personal

When the unexpected/tragic happens, we are thrown off balance, and it may seem unbearable. We can feel much stress, anxiety and instability. You probably will find yourself doing things very differently after a trauma. For example, you may overeat, sleep less, have problems concentrating, and more. For some, it feels like walking through a windstorm… And although it is terribly uncomfortable, you may be actually experiencing what professionals call, “Normal reactions to this abnormal event.” See if you or someone you know can identify with the list of common reactions below:

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Disaster Response in the Work Place

When a disaster/critical incident occurs we are all thrown off our path; when this occurs at work it can be uncomfortable anticipating your day, driving to work, keeping your mind on your tasks, and more. One skill that is very helpful when intrusive thoughts or pictures get in the way of concentrating at work, is to gently acknowledge the intrusion as normal for this kind of problem, and make a promise with yourself (and keep it) to give your problem the proper attention at a particular date and time. 

Getting constructive help, like the tip above, makes the difference between many people quitting or staying on the job. Productivity improves when employers bring in appropriate professionally led discussions after an incident.

It is best at this time for your business professionally, and for all employees personally, to offer what we call, “Critical Incident Briefing”. This is not therapy but is a healing time for all to gather and discuss what’s necessary and learn what are the normal reactions to these kinds of situations. (I invite you to look at the lists in my heading, “Personal Disasters.” We call it, “Normal reactions to abnormal situations”). This meeting usually consists of one to two hours as a group and individual follow-ups as needed.

Some Normal Reactions to Disasters

  • Apathy/depression

  • Nightmares

  • Problems sleeping

  • Startle reactions

  • Muscle tremors

  • Fatigue

  • Overwhelm

  • Disorientation

  • Difficulty concentrating

  • Difficulty making decisions

  • Disbelief

  • Anger

  • Anxiety

  • Moodiness

  • Restlessness

  • Irritability

  • Numbness

  • Guilt

  • Fear

  • Withdrawal

  • Amnesia

  • Old loss memories

  • An urge to make drastic personal changes

You may be told that among these normal reactions are stages, for example stages of shock, trauma, denial, bargaining, minimizing, and more. But don’t believe everything you hear and read about specific ways you are supposed to behave. Your body and your mind heal in your own specific ways and in your own specific timing. If you can gently honor your knowledge about yourself and within yourself, then you will be more comfortable during your pain.

Do this to help during these troubled times:

  • Think of food as medicine and eat as properly as you can

  • Talk to others who are respectful of what you are going through

  • Allow yourself to cry when it feels right

  • Limit your stimuli

  • Focus on today’s needs

  • Appreciate and utilize resources available inside yourself, and in your environment

  • Accept help from others

  • Be active, but take breaks

  • Find and make a safe place for yourself

  • Gently acknowledge your feelings, even if briefly

  • Do something healthy and comforting daily

  • Appreciate and be proud of what you can do instead of being angry at yourself if you are feeling limited right now

  • Prioritize physical activity daily without pushing yourself toward illness.

  • Remind yourself that these internal changes are normal reactions to abnormal events

Please keep in mind that alcohol and drugs will delay your feeling better in the long term.