by Lisa Angelettie
As the financial ripple effect of the devastation of hurricane Katrina slowly begins to creep across the country, there is also another cost of this tragedy - an emotional one.
For the first time in this country's modern history, we have our own group of displaced citizens. Families with no homes, no where to go, no resources, nothing.
This type of devastation is almost imaginable to the average American citizen, but yet it has happened. People are dying from dehydration, drowning, and as the stagnant water ages - soon - people will be dying from disease.
The emotions of these hurricane survivors must be all over the radar. From sadness, to depression, to utter hopelessness. From frustration, to anger, to total rage. As a mental health professional, and a human being, this tragedy left me feeling stunned, upset, and overwhelmed. I can only imagine the feelings of the victims.
Something as devastating as hurricane destruction, much like the recent tsunami, will leave hundreds, even thousands of the people traumatized. Many families will feel the effects of the stress of these events for months to come. And that is a normal adjustment period after such a devastating loss. But then there will be some who may begin to suffer from what is called Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD).
This disorder is usually discussed in mainstream media in conjunction with war veterans - such as troops which have returned from tours in Iraq, Desert Storm, Vietnam, Korea etc. It is primarily an anxiety disorder brought on by a traumatic event.
Symptoms in adults can include:
1. general restlessness
2. insomnia
3. aggressiveness
4. depression
5. dissociation with reality
6. emotional detachment
7. nightmares
Symptoms in children may appear as:
1. Act out aspects of the trauma (such as escaping from the flood waters) through their play
2. Have nightmares that may or may not be about the trauma
Learn more about PTSD here: http://www.girlshrink.com/articles/article/2368944/32351.htm
As the Nation begins to heal from this devastating natural disaster, let's remember that these victims will need all sorts of help.
• Financial Aid
• Medical Aid
• Clothing
• Housing
• Counseling Services
• Help for their Pets
Anything that we can all do to help will encourage the emotional healing process of those who have suffered such loss. Here is a list of resources for those in need and for those seeking to help.
• The American Red Cross: The Red Cross has set up some 250 shelters to house 42,000 evacuees. For more information, go to http://www.redcross.org/.
• The Salvation Army: The Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to help in the affected areas. You can sign up online at www.saussw.org/crd/dsrreg.nsf/registrationw?OpenForm. In addition, victims of the storm needing assistance can call the Salvation Army for help at 1-888-363-2769.
• The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): Humans aren't the only victims of Katrina's wrath. HSUS has deployed its Disaster Animal Response Teams to the region who are equipped to respond to the needs of all animals including pets, horses, farm animals, and wildlife. For more, go to http://www.hsus.org/.
• The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): The FEMA Web site, http://www.fema.gov/press/2005/resources_katrina.shtm, provides information for evacuees on how to get help and also includes a list of organizations and agencies soliciting donations for the relief effort, as well as volunteers to help in the affected areas.
• The Salvation Army's Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN): SATERN has been activated to help individuals send a health and welfare request regarding family and friends they otherwise are unable to locate. You can access SATERN on the Salvations Army's Web site at: www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn.nsf.
• NOLA.com: This Web site, which provides information on New Orleans, now includes a missing person forum at http://www.nola.com/forums/searching.
• Yahoo: Yahoo provides several Hurricane Katrina message boards broken out by city, colleges, and relief centers to allow people to post messages looking for family and friends, or to say they are okay, at http://boards.news.yahoo.com/boards/.
About the Author
Lisa Angelettie, M.S.W., is a psychotherapist, author, and an online advice authority. She has been helping people make smarter life choices since 1998. Visit her for Advice & Counseling, or take a free Depression Screening today at: http://www.girlshrink.com. You can also Subscribe to the free self-help ezine "Better Choices" at: http://www.girlshrink.com/better_choices.html
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