Until one survives a natural disaster, the magnitude of stress cannot be appreciated. Agency staff, who already must deal with family and personal tragedies, have the added burden of caring for a large and often overlooked segment of the population, older adults. Understanding the mechanisms of stress and recognizing its presence can smooth relationships and ease turbulence in a difficult time.
Professionals in mental health acknowledge that post-disaster periods for survivors follow predictable phases. The following descriptions are not inclusive and individual reactions, of course, may vary.
Phase I
Occurs at the time of the emergency or immediately afterward. Represents the period of strongest emotions:
- confusion
- fear
- numbness
- shock
Residents are often called upon to take heroic measures to save themselves, family, friends, or property. Divisions among neighbors, races, or religious groups are forgotten as all attempt to help one another to survive. The prevailing attitude is one of cooperation, with neighbor helping neighbor, and a prevailing deep sense of community.
Phase II
Occurs one week to several months after the disaster. Emotions that are common include:
- anxiety
- apathy
- conflict
- depression
- sense of shared experience
As relief from private, state, and federal agencies begins to take effect, expectations for recovery are high. Anticipated financial relief and volunteer efforts reflect an optimism that recovery will be complete. At the same time, conflicting emotions begin to surface. Anger and suspicion reside where there once was a feeling of mutual trust and kinship. Irritability and physical complaints such as digestive problems, changes in appetite, difficulties in sleeping, and headaches become common. Anger, suspicion, and apathy may surface. Depression occurs with a withdrawal from family and friends and a heightened anxiety about the future. Victims begin cleaning up debris and sorting out salvageable belongings. Community groups that develop from specific needs caused by the disaster are especially important and enjoy widespread community support.
Phase III
The third phase, generally lasting up to a year, is characterized by strong feelings of disappointment, resentment, and bitterness if delays occur and hopes for and promises of government aid are not fulfilled. Outside agencies may pull out, and some of the indigenous community groups may weaken and disappear. During this phase, victims may gradually lose the feeling of shared community found earlier as they concentrate on solving their own problems.
Phase IV
The last phase, reconstruction, may last several years if not the remainder of the lives of some victims. During this time the victims of large-scale disasters realize that they will need to solve the problems of rebuilding their home, businesses, and lives largely by themselves, and they gradually assume responsibility for doing so. The appearance of new buildings replacing old ones, the development of new programs and plans, can serve to reaffirm the victims belief in their community and their own capabilities. When such positive events are delayed, however, emotional problems which do appear may be serious and intense. Community groups -- political, economic, religious, fraternal -- with a long term investment in the community and its people are crucial elements to successful reconstruction.
The following have been noted as age-specific reactions of individuals to disaster. These reactions to stress may appear immediately after the disaster or after the passage of days or weeks. The following composite list of adult reactions (not children or adolescents) is not all-inclusive.
Many people will experience emotional consequences after living through a disaster. These are normal. Ignoring them, hoping that they will go away, or numbing them tends to make them worse over time. Encourage seniors to experience their feelings.
Don't expect that seniors will recover in a certain amount of time. Emotional consequences which occur after a traumatic experience are different for each individual. Many people may not experience these feelings until after survival issues such as safety, food, power, and shelter are adequately managed.
Emotional recovery is much like rebuilding. It takes much more time than expected and the new building is never exactly the same as the one it replaces.
The more you understand the stress and grief process, the better able you will be to help others. There is a wealth of online information to help you. Below, we have identified some information that is quick and easy to implement. The first link is to information to help you stay in good mental health as you attend to the needs of others.
If you need to refer a person to a mental health professional, contact your local mental health agency or access the Mental Health Services Locator at 1-800-789-2647.
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