The Natural Emotions of a Natural Disaster
It’s been a week since Hurricane Helene ravaged the southeastern United States, leaving a path of destruction beyond comprehension. Hundreds of miles from the coast, we never dreamed that a tropical storm would cause such widespread devastation in my hometown of Greenville, South Carolina. The deadliest hurricane to hit the mainland since Katrina in 2005, Helene leveled mountain towns just hours north of us with landslides and historic flooding. Much of our area is still without power eight days later. The death toll continues to climb past 200 as emergency crews recover bodies daily.
A hurricane can be a traumatic event for humans. It is a violent weather system which can claim lives and destroy infrastructure. The trauma of Hurricane Helene leaves some experiencing Acute Stress Disorder, a psychological state that can develop 3 days to 1 month after a crisis. It manifests in the following ways: flashbacks, distressing memories, negative mood, difficulty sleeping, irritability, hypervigilance and exhaustion. My upstate community ran on adrenaline for over a week to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe, help vulnerable neighbors, clear paths through fallen trees, and find resources to live without power for many days. Our experience in Greenville was not nearly as catastrophic as the devastated mountain towns of Western North Carolina, but nonetheless, Helene the left all of us depleted.
For some people, acute stress results from directly experiencing or witnessing trauma. The symptoms generally fade in less than one month if the emotions related to the trauma are acknowledged and processed. Coping strategies to ease these symptoms focus on personal safety, physical and emotional health, and support from others. Specific tactics can include moving your body, talking with friends or family, rest, good nutrition, and processing the natural emotions of the event. Emotions like grief, loss, sadness, helplessness, anger, and fear might show up after a natural disaster. It’s critical to notice these feelings and let them run their course. Avoiding the natural emotional response of trauma can result in worsening symptoms and evolve into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after 1 month. As such, coping mechanisms that numb emotions like alcohol and drug usage are very unhelpful as one recovers from acute stress.
As we come together to assess, rebuild and heal from Hurricane Helene, consider the mental health impacts of this natural disaster. If you or someone you love seems to be struggling with Acute Stress, seek help from a clinician with a trauma-focused approach. There are many options for successful recovery from both Acute Stress Disorder and PTSD. To learn more about Acute Stress Disorder, visit: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/conditions/acute-stress-disorder. For immediate crisis counseling support, visit the Disaster Distress Hotline at https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline.
