
Catastrophic earthquakes and tsunamis, like any source of stress, test people’s ability to adapt to difficult conditions and make the right decisions in critical situations. People often experience constant fear and anxiety, whether they are directly involved in the events, hear about them from the media, or worry about loved ones who are in the disaster area.
Everyone who is affected by natural disasters and large-scale events should remember that:
- people are usually strong, resilient and have instinctive skills to cope with stress;
- not everyone reacts to the same event in the same way, expressing their emotions differently;
- stress in children largely depends on the ability to cope with the situation of their parents or nearby adults.
Those who need help to cope with stress during natural disasters are primarily the elderly, children and adolescents, specialists involved in rescue operations and providing medical services to victims.
Psychological struggle with disasters and emergencies
Constantly hearing about a disaster or emergency can be distressing. If this makes you too emotional, periodically stop watching, reading or listening to the news, including on social networks. The right thing to do is to:
- stay in touch with others – talk about events with friends, family or a professional about your worries;
- control your thoughts, emotions and keep hope;
- try to follow your usual daily routine and continue to do everyday things;
- help victims – donate your time, money or materials or become a volunteer at a local organization.
Take care of your family. Children may have particularly strong emotional distress from natural disasters and emergencies. Therefore, keep calm and give them maximum support. You can support your child or teenager in the following ways:
- give them the opportunity to talk about their concerns, tell them the truth and explain that they can always count on your support;
- tell them that it is normal to be upset or afraid, talk to them about how to cope with their emotions and feelings.
Be careful with the information disseminated in the media. Remember that the media and social networks tend to focus on exceptional situations rather than ordinary ones.
Signs of psychological stress
Disasters, emergencies and violent events affect people in different ways. People in disaster areas may suffer psychologically or physically. Some reactions to events may be immediate, while others are delayed. It is especially difficult to cope with stress that comes from a source beyond our control, such as earthquakes, tsunamis or hurricanes.
If you or your loved ones experience any of the following signs and symptoms, it may indicate a need for psychological help:
- changes in sleeping or eating habits;
- emotional and physical distancing from other people;
- headaches, stomach problems, shooting pains in the neck, back, or exacerbation of chronic diseases;
- anger, guilt, sadness, fear, panic attacks, frequent crying, worry, increased irritability and impatience, and feelings of helplessness;
- difficulty concentrating or paying attention to other people or things;
- increased consumption of alcohol, tobacco or psychotropic drugs;
- avoidance of activities that used to bring pleasure;
- children or adolescents have poor academic performance or aggressive behavior.
This condition can last for several weeks. If a person does not cope with stress on their own or does not get professional help, they will lose their job, begin to distance from other people, and their thoughts will become suicidal.
If you or your loved ones experience any of these signs and symptoms, and the emotional instability lasts for a long time, it would be wise to contact a specialist and get qualified psychological help.