5 Ways to Cope with Trauma in Natural Disasters

Natural disasters are unexpected events that can happen anywhere in the world. Natural disasters such as earthquakes, storms, floods, fires and tsunamis can cause physical, emotional and material damage to people. These events have a profound effect on people and are seen as a traumatic experience. Disasters can endanger people's lives, cause families to break up, financial losses, and people need to restructure their lives. Therefore, it is important to learn ways to cope with natural disaster trauma.

Natural disasters can affect physical and emotional health. Besides physical damage, people can also experience emotional stress. Therefore, after natural disasters, people are at higher risk of experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD can prevent a person from remembering events, concentrating, and performing daily functions. In this situation, it is important to deal with natural disasters in a healthy way.

Here are suggestions for dealing with natural disaster trauma:

You need to feel safe

In natural disasters, people can be in physical danger. To feel safe, it is important to first provide shelter and adequate food and water. Meeting people's need for survival takes precedence over all other needs. Therefore, during a natural disaster, your priority should always be to stay safe.

Meet Your Mental and Physical Needs

During a natural disaster, people can be under stress. Therefore, it is important to stay calm and meet your physical and mental needs. To lower the stress level, you can meditate, breathe deeply, or do yoga. Aside from these, adequate nutrition and sleep are important for maintaining mental health. Also, if you are injured, you should seek medical attention.

Connect with Supporting People

After a natural disaster, people need psychological support. Therefore, joining a support group or meeting with a therapist

It is important to meet people's emotional needs. Also, staying in close contact with family and friends can help people cope with the trauma of natural disasters. Being emotionally supported can help people get through things and move on with their lives.

Give Yourself Time

Natural disasters can completely change people's lives. That's why it's important for people to give themselves time, let things happen, and process the emotional stress they're experiencing. It can take time for people to recover emotionally, so expecting a quick recovery is a possible cruelty towards people themselves. By giving yourself time, you can process your trauma and heal.

Help Yourself

Natural disasters can turn people's lives upside down and it's important that people help themselves. Self-help can reduce the risk of injury and help you feel empowered. It is also important that people are prepared to meet their physical and mental needs. Preparation in advance allows people to help themselves and their families during a natural disaster.