How Are Natural Disasters Fueling The Wildfire Of Mental Health Crises?
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Natural disasters over the years
You may have noticed an increase in the frequency and severity of natural disasters in the last couple of decades. Research shows that the increase is significant. Natural disasters can lead to severe injuries, death, loss of homes, and significant impact on infrastructure. However, research shows that natural disasters can also affect people’s mental health in several ways.
How do natural disasters such as earthquake, hurricane, tornado, flood, wildfire, drought or tsunami impact mental health?
Natural disasters can greatly affect a person’s emotional and behavioral health. The impacts can happen before, during, and after the experience and may last for years.
Stress and anxiety after natural disasters and natural hazards
After a natural disaster strikes, it can cause high levels of stress and anxiety. While some will only have temporary stress during an event, others may have psychological effects that linger and affect their ability to function.
A natural disaster can disrupt a person’s entire life and impede them from returning to work. They may even have to move away from the place they call home. These events can disrupt support systems and relationships, cause financial burdens, and tear down the communities that the affected individuals worked hard to build.
It can be traumatic to lose a home, pets, and loved ones after a natural disaster. There may be a grieving period immediately following a disaster when survivors have to rebuild their life. This can increase stress even more and make it difficult to process events during and after the natural disaster.
Some people may continue to feel afraid even when the risks have decreased. Some may develop survivor’s guilt or go into shock and confusion. They may develop irrational fears of similar instances happening in the future.
Extreme effects of a natural disaster such as earthquake, hurricane, tornado, flood, wildfire, tsunami, or drought
Therapy for mental health conditions triggered by natural disasters and natural hazards
In addition to individual stressors, essential services can be disrupted by a natural disaster and make it difficult or impossible to seek medical care. This includes mental healthcare. Research shows that a severe natural disaster can cause post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
However, therapy can be an effective way to treat PTSD and other mental health conditions that natural disasters often trigger. Research shows that several different kinds of therapy may be beneficial.
Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
For example, trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can examine a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This may help you explore thought patterns to identify unhelpful thoughts and replace them with positive thoughts, which may lead to positive emotions and behaviors.
One specific form of CBT called prolonged exposure therapy involves methods to avoid anxiety and other negative feelings related to triggers. As a person becomes exposed to a trigger with the therapist, they may experience less stress and learn to respond in a way that leads to better outcomes.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy
Since natural disasters can cause PTSD, other types of therapy for this condition may be more beneficial. For example, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy, or EMDR, is sometimes used for people who have PTSD. This type of therapy typically involves stimulation of eye movements by a therapist while an individual recalls a traumatic event. EMDR may help to replace negative reactions to the memories tied to the traumatic event with more positive reactions.
Risk factors for mental health conditions triggered by natural disasters
While anyone can develop mental health concerns due to a natural disaster, some people may be more at risk. For example, children may be more vulnerable to stress and other negative reactions caused by a traumatic experience. Mental health challenges can sometimes lead to behavioral and academic problems.
Also, individuals who already have a mental illness or who previously survived a traumatic experience may also be more at risk of PTSD. Even if they have not recently been experiencing mental health concerns, they may be more likely to develop a new condition.
Also, first responders and other recovery workers may also be at risk. They can develop PTSD and other disorders after working to help others recover from a natural disaster.
There are several other possible risk factors. For example, the severity of the disaster and how it affects a person’s life can be significant factors that contribute to mental health challenges. Also, a person’s family, age, support system, and socioeconomic status may also play a role in their response to a natural disaster.
Things you can do in case of a natural disaster
There are some steps you can take to help yourself and your loved ones cope with the aftermath of a natural disaster.
Try to set up a schedule.
After a natural disaster, life may be so disrupted that it can be difficult to stay on schedule. It may help to set up a schedule to follow. You might start with one aspect of life, such as setting regular mealtimes. The structure of a routine may help you feel more in control. It may also help you not forget to eat.Do something you enjoy.
Even if it is only for an hour, it may be beneficial to engage in something you enjoy. Whether it is going for a walk or just reading a book, you might try to participate in these types of activities. It may get your mind off of the negative experience and on to more enjoyable and positive things.Practice mindfulness.
Research shows that mindfulness can have a significant effect on anxiety and stress. Even though life after a natural disaster may be completely disrupted, it may help to take a few minutes each day to practice mindfulness. This could be through meditation, a breathing exercise, or just a walk where you concentrate on your awareness. Mindfulness typically involves watching your thoughts come and go without judgment. This may allow you to identify negative or illogical thought processes, which may help you to not identify with them.- Try not to overwhelm yourself.
Despite your efforts to get your life back to normal, taking on too much or working on too many things may increase stress. It also might prevent you from grieving the loss of your home, community, relationships, job, or loved ones. It may help to give yourself some time to process everything as you gradually work to rebuild. - Reach out to loved ones.
It can be difficult to stay resilient and optimistic following a traumatic experience. One thing that might help is reaching out to your social support system. While it may be difficult to see people locally, you can try to contact friends and family by phone or seek out an online community of people that a natural disaster has impacted. Research indicates that social support is an important factor for well-being after a natural disaster. Even if there is just one person you can talk to, it may help you during recovery from a natural disaster. - Help others.
This may apply if you were not affected as significantly as your neighbors and have the time or resources to lend a hand. Helping others may give you a sense of control and meaning and help you heal mentally and emotionally.
Seeking help after a natural disaster
Crisis counselors are often brought into a disaster area to help, and it may be a good idea to take advantage of that opportunity should it arise. These counselors don’t typically offer therapy while on-site, but rather help survivors start the recovery process by helping them build on their personal strengths and inner resilience. Just talking to someone may help you process your thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
Online therapy
At some point, you may also benefit from therapy. While it can be difficult to see a local therapist in the aftermath of a natural disaster, online counseling offers you the ability to communicate as long as there is an internet or cell tower connection. Online therapy allows you to avoid the dangers of traversing roads after a natural disaster. With online therapy, you can connect with a licensed therapist with a phone, tablet, or computer via audio or video chat. You can also contact them at any time through in-app messaging, and they’ll get back to you as soon as they can.
Numerous peer-reviewed studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of online therapy. One study published by Cureus showed that online therapy was effective for a variety of mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
Takeaway
In recent years, natural disasters have had a significant impact on many people’s mental health. From the wildfires in the West to the hurricanes in the Southeast, many natural disasters have wreaked havoc and caused anxiety and post-traumatic stress for many individuals. If you’ve experienced a natural disaster, you may find yourself experiencing a wide range of thoughts and emotions.
If this is the case, you may benefit from speaking with a licensed counselor, whether in person or online. BetterHelp has a network of more than 25,000 licensed therapists, so you can be matched with a therapist who has experience helping people recover from a natural disaster. Take the first step toward healing after a natural disaster and reach out to BetterHelp.
What were the 10 worst natural disasters?
Ten of the worst natural disaster events, by death toll, include:
- Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in 2011 (~20,000 fatalities)
- A 20-year drought in the Sahel region of Africa (~100,000 fatalities)
- Bangladesh cyclone in 1991 (~139,000 fatalities)
- Earthquake in Haiti in 2010 (~200,000 fatalities)
- Typhoon Nina in 1975 (~230,000 fatalities)
- Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami in 2004 (~230,000 fatalities)
- Tangshan earthquake in 1976 (~242,000 fatalities)
- Cyclone Bhola in 1970 (~300,000 fatalities)
- The Yellow River Flood in 1887 (~1-2 million fatalities)
- The Yangtze River Floods in 1931 (~2 million fatalities)
The International Disaster Database contains comprehensive data on over 26,000 natural disasters that have occurred since 1900.
What is a natural disaster's simple definition?
Natural disasters, sometimes referred to as natural hazards, occur when a severe weather event impacts people living in the area.
What is a natural disaster and its causes?
A natural disaster, also known as a natural hazard, is when severe weather events occur, such as a drought, hurricane, or wildfire, and cause social and economic disruption to an area. A natural disaster may occur as the result of earth’s natural process, such as tectonic shifts, lunar activities, and ocean currents. It can also be caused by climate-related and man-made changes such as mining, deforestation, pollution, and global warming.
What is the most common natural disaster?
The most common natural disaster is a flood.
What are the effects of natural disasters?
Natural disasters cause social and economic disruption to affected communities.
What is an example of a natural disaster?
A few examples of natural disasters include floods, storms, blizzards, droughts, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis.
How can we prevent natural disasters?
It can be difficult to prevent natural disasters, but you can participate in disaster risk reduction to reduce the impact that these natural hazards have on your home and life. The National Weather Service suggests ways to prepare for a number of extreme weather events. For example, people who live in flood prone areas may take extra precautions to seal the walls of their foundation to defend their homes. People who live where heat waves are common may store extra water in their cars to remain hydrated if they happen to become stranded. You may not be able to prevent extreme weather events, but you can prepare for challenges you’ll likely face.
After natural catastrophes, disaster relief can help defend human health and safety. Disaster response organizations such as the Red Cross and World Vision may provide temporary shelter, meals, and clean water to drink.
Where do natural disasters happen?
Natural disasters happen all across the world. Different regions are prone to different events. For example, areas along the coast are more prone to flooding, hurricanes, or cyclones. The midwest of the United States experiences tornados. Areas along fault lines are where earthquakes occur. The disaster risk of an area is highly dependent on its topography.
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