Managing the traumatic stress of a hurricane and its aftermath

It is important to know that it is common for people to experience very strong emotional reactions to the arrival of a hurricane and its accompanying damage to homes and entire communities.

If you are experiencing distress, you are not alone. Understanding common responses to extreme events can help you to cope effectively with your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.

There are several steps you can take in the wake of a hurricane or other traumatic experience, including the following:

• Recognize that this is a challenging time. Take things one step at a time and be safe. Make sure you’re taking care of yourself and family, and in a safe location. Don’t do anything to compromise your safety or the safety of your loved ones.
• You may be experiencing uncomfortable reactions such as shortness of breath, difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, distractibility. Those are normal under the circumstances. Abnormal reactions are a normal reaction to an abnormal situation.
• Get to a shelter if you cannot stay in your home or you do not have access to power.
• Connect with loved ones to let them know you are safe and for emotional support. Make sure your phone software is updated so that if you have no Wi-Fi or cellular signal you can still communicate via satellite on an iPhone or some Android phones.
• Allow yourself to mourn the losses you have experienced. Recognize that you may experience a variety of emotions.
• Access to information will depend on your location in relation to the storm. If you are able to access the news, stay abreast of the most recent warnings and information.
• Ask for support from people who care about you and who will listen and empathize with your situation. But keep in mind that your typical support system may be weakened if those who are close to you also have experienced or witnessed the hurricane.
• If you experience difficulties sleeping, you may be able to find some relief through relaxation techniques. Avoid alcohol and drugs since these can increase a sense of depression and/or impede you from doing what is necessary to be resilient and cope with events.
• If you are caring for children, some preventive interventions (PDF, 2.1MB), such as creating a timeline together, writing a personal “hurricane story,” and helping them to name intense feelings as they arise, can prevent lasting trauma and promote resilience.

Individuals with prolonged distress related to a hurricane that disrupts their daily functioning may consult with a trained and experienced mental health professional. Psychologists and other appropriate mental health providers help educate people about normal responses to extreme stress and make a plan for moving forward.

Psychologists can help by providing evidence-based treatments to help people manage their emotions around traumatic events. Most commonly, psychologists use therapy (sometimes referred to as psychotherapy or talk therapy). There are many different styles of therapy, but the psychologist will choose the type that best addresses the person’s problem and best fits the patient’s characteristics and preferences.

[Related: Managing traumatic stress: Dealing with hurricanes from afar]

Some common types of therapy are cognitive, behavioral, cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, humanistic, psychodynamic, or a combination of a few therapy styles. Therapy can be for an individual, couples, family, or other group. Some psychologists are trained to use hypnosis, which research has found to be effective for a wide range of conditions including pain, anxiety, and mood disorders.

For some conditions, therapy and medication are a treatment combination that works best. For people who benefit from medication, psychologists work with primary care physicians, pediatricians, and psychiatrists on their overall treatment.