Psychology Problems Advice Info

Natural Disaster Survivors Left With Psychological Impact

Article by Nadine Davis

Modern communications technology has placed our society in a position unique in human history. We now have every piece of news and information at our disposal, immediately it is happening. In the past when a natural disaster struck, the first images those not immediately affected would see were usually after the fact, i.e. the aftermath. For the majority of the population there was no breathless anticipation while glued to instant images, no speculation about what would happen next, no alternative scenarios done through computer modeling. It was rather matter-of-fact until news teams could access the affected areas, and then would come the human stories of loss and survival.

Although we have come a long way in technological advances that can give us prior warning of natural disasters, the mental and psychological effects need to be given more consideration. Through going to counseling flood victims, for example, will be able to process their feeling and emotions, rather than ignore them.

In an disaster situation, people experience shock and feelings of terror and helplessness, followed by elation that they have survived. The first response is always one of rescue and physical safety followed by the cleaning up, rebuilding and getting back to normal. This takes months, and people are physically busy, with all their energies directed into the rebuilding. Some emotion may spill out, but mostly people try to “get on with it”.

Usually the first signs of psychological distress appear after this initial burst of physical activity, often months later. Symptoms can present as being unusually depressed, feeling guilty for surviving, particularly if others in the same situation didn’t, insomnia, anger, and withdrawing from family and friends.

Take these symptoms seriously. Although they are just material possessions, losing things such as photographs, mementos and homes can have a profound effect on a person’s emotional and mental well being. A home can be a sign of security and privacy and when these things are lost through natural disasters then it can cause a large shift in a person’s harmony and balance.

Emotional trauma such as this is not something that people can just “get over”. In the more extreme cases, post traumatic stress disorder can result which needs professional intervention. Through consulting a psychologist disaster victims, for example, will get assistance to work through their emotional issues to a quicker recovery in their general health.

The effect of natural disasters on the mental health of victims is now understood to be just as important as the physical rebuilding. People with strong family and community ties cope much better than people on their own, and disaster organizations are now planning around this knowledge.

About the Author

At The Centre for Human Potential http://www.centreforhumanpotential.com.au/, a psychologist Brisbane can assist with counseling Brisbane disaster victims to help them come to terms with their experience.