Coping With Emotional Losses After Hurricane Wilma
Emotional well-being is a fundamental part of physical health
Release Date: December 7, 2005
Release Number: 1609-041
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Wilma
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Many Florida residents have experienced devastation and major personal losses due to Hurricane Wilma. Mental health experts know that while physical damage may be immediately visible following a hurricane, stress and emotional problems from losing a job, a home, belongings or loved ones can linger and appear weeks or months after a traumatic event. Many people affected by Wilma may feel overwhelmed as they struggle to navigate the very system that’s being established to provide support and assistance. And stress levels may also rise as the holidays approach.
While physical property and possessions are initial concerns that consume the time and energy of disaster victims, emotional reactions to disasters and catastrophic events are often pushed aside or ignored. Thus, officials from the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Florida’s State Emergency Response Team (SERT) are urging Wilma-affected Hurricane residents to tend to their emotional needs, as well.
One fundamental resource for coping with the emotional effects of Wilma’s aftermath is Project HOPE. Funded by a FEMA grant which is administered through Florida’s Department of Children and Families, Project HOPE is offering counseling and mental-health referrals to Floridians affected by the devastation brought by Hurricane Wilma.
If you’ve been affected by Hurricane Wilma, the following information is worth keeping in mind:
It is very common for people to experience a wide range of emotional reactions to a disaster or catastrophic event such as a hurricane. These reactions are experienced in thoughts, feelings and actions, and are often very upsetting to you and those around you. However, it is extremely important to remember that they are normal reactions to an abnormal event. You have been through an exceptionally stressful situation and these emotional reactions may continue for many months following the hurricane.
What changes might I expect?
YOUR BEHAVIORS
- Problems getting to sleep or staying asleep.
- Isolating yourself or withdrawing from others.
- Keeping excessively busy and preoccupied to avoid the unpleasant effects of the disaster.
- At times, becoming overly alert or easily startled.
- Avoiding activities, places or even people that remind you of the disaster.
- Increased conflicts or tension with family members or other people. Increased anger.
- Easily crying or becoming tearful for no apparent reason.
- An increase or decrease in your normal appetite.
YOUR FEELINGS
- Feeling “just not myself,” out of balance or easily upset.
- Feeling a loss of interest in everyday activities.
- Feeling a sense of despair, hopelessness or emptiness about the future.
- Experiencing anxiety or fear, especially when things remind you of the disaster.
- Feeling irritable, short-tempered or angry and resentful.
- Feeling depressed, sad or down much of the time.
YOUR THOUGHTS
- Trouble concentrating or remembering things.
- Difficulty making decisions.
- Frequently replaying the events and circumstances of the disaster in your mind.
- Recurring dreams or even nightmares about the disaster.
- Questioning of spiritual or religious beliefs.
There are many concerns, adjustments and ordeals that follow the experience of a disaster. Generally, within a short time there is the reality of financial setbacks and the loss of property and personal possessions. The endless adjustments that you and your family must make may put additional stress on your relationships and daily living. You may also grow physically and mentally weary from the enormous task of cleaning up and rebuilding. All of these factors may strain your ability to move forward.
In the aftermath of a disaster or catastrophic event, it is important to remember that it will take time to heal and recover from the emotional effects of the disaster. However, with the passing of time, your efforts to cope will begin to reduce the intensity and duration of these emotional reactions and behaviors.
What are some ways for my family and I to cope?
FOR YOURSELF
- Talk to others about how you are feeling. It is important to talk about your experiences; you need to express sadness, grief, anger and fears over what has happened and what you face.
- Don’t overwork yourself. Take time off from repairs and be with your family. Take time for recreation, relaxation or a favorite hobby.
- Do not let yourself become isolated. Seek out and maintain connections with your community – friends, relatives, neighbors, co-workers or church members. Talk about your experiences with them.
- Pay close attention to your physical health as prolonged stress takes its toll on the body. Maintain a good diet and make sure you are getting enough sleep. It is also helpful to be physically active or to exercise.
- Upsetting times can cause some people to use alcohol or drugs to help cope with the stress. It does not help in the long run and will likely cause other problems.
FOR YOUR FAMILY
- Families should keep some routines in place such as regular meals, certain enjoyable activities and other family rituals. This will help you feel as though life has some sense of order and normalcy.
- Couples need to attend to their relationship as this is often overlooked. Take time to be alone, to talk about how you are feeling and to have fun together.
- Take time to talk with the children about their experience; listen to what they have to say and let them freely express their feelings. This is a confusing and frightening time for them. Remember that children do not have the same level of coping or understanding that you have.
Project HOPE
The Project HOPE Crisis Counseling Hotline is 1-866-518-1825. It is operational 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. The service is available for residents of the following Florida counties designated for Individual Assistance Programs in Wilma’s wake: Broward, Collier, Indian River, Glades, Hendry, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie.
The hotline number serves as a central point of access where callers can identify themselves as needing support and assistance in coping with the impact of the hurricane. Trained counselors answer hotline calls. They, in turn, can provide information and referral services for relief agencies and crisis counseling in the area where the caller resides. In many cases, teams of trained Project HOPE staff will then visit the caller to personally provide outreach, information, referrals and direct crisis counseling.
The State Emergency Response Team (SERT) is a collaboration of Florida’s state agencies led by the state coordinating officer. SERT’s mission is to ensure that Florida is prepared to respond to emergencies, recover from them, and mitigate their impacts. Visit www.floridadisaster.org for the latest information on the hurricane relief efforts.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003. For more information visit www.fema.gov.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 07-Dec-2005 13:09:59