Disasters affect people in many ways. The physical effects of the 2008 flood—loss of homes and cherished possessions, damage and destruction of property, loss of business or employment—are obvious. Short term emotional effects, such as fear, acute anxiety, feelings of emotional numbness, or grief, are very common.

Some Initial Responses to Disaster
*Fear, anxiety
*Difficulty believing what has happened
*Feelings of loss and emptiness
*Feeling sadness or heavy
*Difficulty relaxing
*Difficulty making decisions
*Irritability, sudden anger
*Guilt that others lost more
*Being easily startled
*Thinking “no one can understand what I’ve been through”
*Need to cling to others
*Confusion
*High need for information
*Helpfulness to other disaster victims


These are normal responses to an abnormal situation. For most who survive disasters, these responses fade with time. But some people experience longer-term emotional effects that do not fade. The emotional effects of a disaster may show up immediately or may appear months later. They may be obviously related to the disaster or their origin may go unrecognized.

Later Responses to Disaster
*Grief, depression, despair, hopelessness; crying for “no apparent reason”
*Anxiety, nervousness, being frightened easily, worrying
*Feeling disoriented or confused
*Feeling helpless and vulnerable
*Suspiciousness, constant fear of harm
*Sleep disturbances: insomnia, bad dreams, nightmares
*Irritability, moodiness, anger
*Headaches, digestive problems, diffuse muscular pains, sweats and chills, tremors, loss of sexual desire
*Flashbacks: feelings of re-living the experience, often with high anxiety
*Avoiding thoughts about the disaster: avoiding places, pictures, sounds, reminding the victim of the disaster; avoiding discussion about it
*Increased marital conflict or other interpersonal conflict
*Excessive alcohol or drug use
*Difficulty concentrating, remembering; slow thinking
*Difficulty making decisions and planning
*Feelings of being detached from your body or from your experiences, as if they are not happening to you
*Feelings of ineffectiveness, shame, despair, built
*Self-destructive or impulsive behavior
*Suicidal thoughts or attempts

What You Can Do
Recognize your own feelings. Strong feelings after a disaster are almost universal. It is not abnormal or “crazy” to have strong feelings and unanticipated reactions.

Be tolerant of other people’s reactions—their irritability and short tempers. Disasters are a time of stress for everyone.

Talk to others about your feelings. Talking helps relieve stress and helps you realize that your feelings are shared by others. You are not alone.

Take care of yourself: Get enough rest. Eat properly. Take time off to do something you enjoy. Get as much physical activity as possible, such as running or walking.

Learn relaxation exercises and use them regularly.

Seek out and share accurate information about assistance being offered and possible resources, but do not spread rumors: Chick out information about which you have doubts.

Do not allow yourself to become inactive or completely dependent on others. Get involved in making decisions that affect you. Try to solve your own problems.

Get back to work and resume your normal family role and functions as soon a possible.

Do not allow yourself to become isolated from others. Participate in community responses to the disaster. Accept help from others, and offer help to others.

Adapted from J. H. Ehrenreich, 2001, Coping with Disasters.
Distributed by St. Luke’s Counseling Center, 369-7952