Emotional Recovery

"The sun will come out tomorrow" - Annie the Musical

Today's blog is taken from the Red Cross website "Picking Up the Pieces after a Disaster". While the physical destruction after an emergency is plain to see, the emotional damage is equally important to recognize and address.

You may be surprised at how you and others may feel after a disaster... People may experience fear concerning their safety or that of a loved one, shock, disbelief, grief, anger and guilt. Memory problems, anxiety and/or depression are also possible after experiencing a disaster.

Children, senior citizens, people with disabilities and people for whom English is not their first language are especially at risk. It is important to talk with children and elderly people in a calm way and let them know that you will help them find a safe place to stay.

Children become afraid that the event will happen again and that they or their
family may be injured or killed.

Young children do not understand the notice of replay on TV. When they see pictures again and again of a tornado or storm, they think the event is live and reoccurring. In NYC on 9-11 many children were terrified by frequent reshowings of a plane hitting the World Trade Center and the towers collapsing. For them the event kept rehappening.

Some basic steps you can take to meet physical and emotional needs

• Try to return to as many of your personal and family routines as possible. For children this can mean having a favorite stuffed animal to hold and familiar pajamas to sleep in.
• Get rest and drink plenty of water.
• Limit your exposure to the sights and sounds of disaster, especially on television, the radio and in the newspapers.
• Focus on the positive.
• Recognize your own feelings.
• Reach out and accept help from others.
• Do something you enjoy. Do something as a family that you have all enjoyed in the past.
• Stay connected with your family and/or other support systems.
• Realize that, sometimes, recovery can take time.

BOTTOM LINE

If you observe unusual behavior in your children, which you think may be caused by a reaction to the disaster, contact your local Red Cross chapter, child's counselor or community professional for additional information and help. The Red Cross can also arrange for you to talk with a member of its disaster staff who has special expertise in dealing with disaster stress.