These days, natural disasters are considered one of the most frightening to ever happen to humans. No one is ever prepared for it. It comes with minimal warnings, and when it hits, it can cause great destruction. Even the most sophisticated technology cannot accurately tell the extent of these natural disasters.

When you experience natural disasters like hurricanes or earthquakes, it will take a long while before you can recover from them. Its effects are devastating, and sometimes, even if you and your family are safe, you still have trauma.

Negative Effects of Natural Disasters

Anyone who experiences natural disasters will never forget what they’ve been through. They want to forget the whole thing, but there are bits and pieces that will remind them of that fateful time. As a result, their mental health is affected, and moving on will never come easy.

Sleep Deprivation

Sleeping is an important factor in maintaining a healthy mind. But it becomes difficult to do when your mind keeps thinking about that bad experience. It's hard for you to fall asleep because you still fear that a natural disaster might strike again. You become restless and preoccupied. You may also struggle with having nightmares.

Changes in Eating Habits

There are times when you’re too overwhelmed by a natural disaster, and it’s everything you can ever think of. This often results in eating less or more just to numb the feelings. But food is really important, especially when you’re under stress. When you’re not eating well, what you’re feeling now will only get worse. You easily get angry or irritated, even over petty things.

Feeling Anxious and Depressed

It is expected to be sad and devastating because natural disasters are tragic. But once it turns into anxiety and depression, you need to do something. No one is ever prepared for a natural disaster, but it doesn’t mean that you have to neglect yourself. When you’re feeling frequently sad, seek professional help right away.

Social Isolation and Withdrawal

With everything that’s going on, moving on can be very difficult. Somehow, you partially blame yourself because you couldn’t do anything. You feel helpless, but you don’t want to break down in front of other people. You don’t want them to see you being affected by what happened. So, instead of finding ways to move forward, you choose to isolate yourself and not see other people.

Living an Unhealthy Lifestyle

Experiencing a natural disaster can trigger alcohol and chemical dependency. Some people turn to live a toxic and unhealthy lifestyle to escape their problems temporarily. They think that by doing this, they are spared from the responsibilities they have to take on. But this bad habit will only exacerbate things. It will lead to relationship and money problems. Instead of moving forward from that bad experience, you only drag yourself into a messier situation.

Coping Strategies for Better Mental Health

When it comes to managing your mental health after a natural disaster, there’s no one perfect solution. But you have to bear in mind that no matter how traumatic the situation was, your mental health is a priority. Don’t let that disaster prevent you from living the life you wanted. If it’s unbearable, take one step at a time.

Assess your situation.

When a natural disaster strikes, check immediately the intensity of the damage. You need to make sure that your family and pets are safe. It’s best that you look for a temporary shelter and other necessities for them. You can also coordinate and contact your local officials on what should be done.

Prioritize self-care.

Most of the time, when an unexpected situation happens, your instinct is to solve it right away. Taking care of yourself is the last thing on your mind. You forget to eat right and get enough sleep. But, if you fail to look after yourself, you’re bound to make wrong decisions. That is something that you must avoid doing. Eat healthy food, exercise, and rest so that you can nourish your body and mind.

Have a conversation with your family.

A natural disaster is a tragic experience for all, especially when there’s death and loss involved. Aside from making sure that your family has all the basic needs, check also how they’re handling the situation. The children may still be scared, or your partner is still traumatized. Talk to them about what happened and what your plan is. It’s also better that they seek counseling for them to manage their emotions.

Ask for help.

Experiencing a natural disaster can mess up your mind, especially the young ones. When you notice that there are big and sudden changes in your family’s behavior and habits, you may have to consider seeking therapy. It’s natural for a whole family to go into therapy after a traumatic event. This is an effective way to deal with something tragic and unpleasant.

You can visit Mindshift Psychological Services for therapy and counseling sessions. You can check out their website to learn more about them. You can also contact them at (714) 584-9700 to schedule an appointment.