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Learning to cope after the floodKansas Over the past several years, it seems that natural disasters have been on the increase across the nation and in their wake, a trail of devastation has been left behind. Last spring, an F-5 tornado literally took out the small southwest Kansas town of Greensburg, and then in early summer, southeast Kansas received their own dose of Mother Nature's fury when the rain came down and the flood water came up. After the waters receded, much devastation remained. This catastrophic event occurred just a few months shy of a year ago, but it does not mean that those horrifying moments of terror have been resolved for all of those who experienced them last year. There are several psychological phases disaster survivors experience as they proceed toward recovery from the event. Just after the disaster, the heroic period begins which is filled with hope and with help from many outsiders--most of whom aren't from the community. This is when everyone from FEMA to the governor to the volunteers from the communities all over the country show up. The heroic phase is followed by the honeymoon phase, lasting days or weeks, where support is offered by neighbors, family, and friends. People count their blessings and remain hopeful that yes, they are going to be OK. People believe things are going to be fine, they'll rebuild, they'll have new homes, and things will turn out OK. They think they are going to get everything they need. Eventually, as the days pass and they don't get enough funds to rebuild exactly what they had before, as resources begin to dry up, and exhaustion takes over, the disillusionment phase begins. People realize that FEMA is not insurance, it won't replace everything. That they didn't have enough insurance, they built in a flood zone and they aren't covered, decisions regarding the flood zone are slow, buyout decisions take time, the story varies, the people hurt, the community as a whole may begin to also have difficulties. Sometimes it takes weeks, months, sometimes even years before communities can recover and resolve the problems created by the disaster. It is when people and their communities begin to take control and prioritize, and to reconcile themselves to the changes that are irreversible--that they begin the long slow climb toward recovery. This process takes time. "Trigger" events, such as holidays, the death of a loved one, health concerns, financial strain, reminders of the event, or the even the approach of the anniversary date, can become pitfalls during recovery. Knowing this ahead of time and planning for the triggers can be helpful to both individuals and communities in moving forward towards recovery. Most people will make it through and recover. Some people will need a little extra help in their recovery and they will also be fine. A few people will have difficulty and need to seek professional help to find their recovery. An important part of the process is the ability to recognize and deal with the stressors present after the disaster. Reactions to stress may include symptoms such as nausea/vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, chest pain, high blood pressure, headaches, or fatigue. Others may include sleeping too much or too little; eating too much or too little; abuse of nicotine, alcohol, or drugs (prescription or illegal); loss of interest in normal activities, or ignoring friends and family and becoming isolated. Other changes may include a lack of ability to concentrate or feeling disoriented or confused. Other signs of stress include flashbacks or extreme feelings of grief, guilt, anxiety, fear, worry, irritability, anger/rage, or helplessness. Responses to stress vary from person to person, but having some of these reactions is quite normal for someone dealing with a distressing event. Remember, stress can cause problems in the body and often in your life, so recognizing and dealing with your reactions, especially if they become persistent, could be crucial to your well being. There are many things that can be done to reduce stress and to help yourself. Most are among the things we already know we should do: exercise, eat a healthy, balanced diet, drink plenty of water, and get a good night's sleep. Other activities that are also important are to take breaks through the day to allow the body to rest and relax, meditate, pray if you feel spiritual fulfillment is healing, or limit exposure to media that may prompt a negative reaction. Allow emotions to surface--cry if necessary, laugh whenever you can. Engage in favorite activities or hobbies. Seek out any resources that are available to help yourself feel better, mobilize your support systems like family and friends. Finally, seek out someone to talk to, a friend, neighbor, or professional counselor can be the best thing when you're feeling blue. Remember this is not something that is uncommon, it is natural to feel this way, and it is natural to hurt because of it. You have lived through a difficult time and your reaction is the very natural reaction of your body to that unnatural situation of trauma. Give yourself a break--you would do the same for your neighbor. If you or a loved one struggle to cope with loss experienced from the summer floods, and recognize some of the signs of stress, please seek advice from a healthcare professional or contact KARE at 866-327-6578. KARE outreach workers will continue to be available through July 27 to support individuals and communities in recovery.
Date: 7/10/08
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