Psychological Impact Natural Disaster

What Is The Psychological Impact Of Natural Disasters

There can be no more helpless a feeling than being in the middle of a natural disaster as it is happening, and experiencing first-hand the raw power of nature. For those of us whose only brush with a natural disaster is to be caught in a severe thunder or hail storm with some moderate damage to our homes, gardens and in the case of hail, our cars, we can only imagine the terror and uncertainty people must feel while the event is happening. To emerge at the other end as a survivor, then brings a different set of challenges as damage to property is assessed, temporary shelter found and a myriad of other issues confronted.

Although we have come a long way in technological advances that can give us prior warning of natural disasters, the mental and psychological effects need to be given more consideration. Through going to counselling Brisbane flood victims, for example, will be able to process their feeling and emotions, rather than ignore them.

In an disaster situation, people experience shock and feelings of terror and helplessness, followed by elation that they have survived. The first response is always one of rescue and physical safety followed by the cleaning up, rebuilding and getting back to normal. This takes months, and people are physically busy, with all their energies directed into the rebuilding. Although some people try to "get on with it", others are affected emotionally by the disaster.
Usually the first signs of psychological distress appear after this initial burst of physical activity, often months later. Symptoms can present as being unusually depressed, feeling guilty for surviving, particularly if others in the same situation didn’t, insomnia, anger, and withdrawing from family and friends.

Take these symptoms seriously. Although they are just material possessions, losing things such as photographs, mementos and homes can have a profound effect on a person's emotional and mental well being. A person’s home gives security and privacy, and in a total loss situation, that security and privacy has been unexpectedly and savagely removed.

Emotional trauma such as this is not something that people can just “get over.” In the more extreme cases, post traumatic stress disorder can result which needs professional intervention. People in this situation should consult with a psychologist Brisbane in order to work through the emotional issues that arise from such loss and will assist them with a faster recovery.

The effect of natural disasters on the mental health of victims is now understood to be just as important as the physical rebuilding. People with strong family and community ties cope much better than people on their own, and disaster organisations are now planning around this knowledge.

Family Related Stress

Holiday Planning Keeps Stress At Bay

No-one wants to hear news of tragic loss of life or financial hardship in the build up to the Christmas holidays, but there has been much of that type of reporting in the media of late. Those fortunate enough to be untouched by such events would do well to reflect on their situation and imagine what it must be like for others for whom the holidays bring not joy but pain. The extra pressure that holiday expectations place on people who are already emotionally overloaded can easily cause stress-related reactions such as anxiety attacks, withdrawal from friends and family or physical illnesses.

This often happens because the reality of daily life rarely matches the hype, but it is possible to minimise the damage that can be caused by putting in place a few simple strategies to manage the conflicting demands on time, money and goodwill. To help to cope with this time of year, counselling Brisbane may be necessary in order to get some coping strategies into place. The following guidelines are to help alleviate the stress and to put happiness back into your Christmas.
=> Work out a spending budget, do a shopping list and stick to it. The whole retail industry is geared to separating shoppers from their money, and impulse buying, especially on credit, will only delay the stress until the bill comes in.

=> Consciously choose which functions you can comfortably attend and say a polite “no thank you” to the others. Spreading yourself too thin can often lead to becoming burnt out to quick. Your health needs to be taken care of, especially at this time of year.

=> Recognise that not all family relationships are congenial, and if there are unresolved differences between family members, accept the situation and the people and don’t take on the pressure to be the peacemaker.

=> Realise that no-one can turn back time! Realizing that not all traditions can be upheld is important, especially our older family members whom these are important to.. Families grow and spread, and as new members enter the fold, they bring with them their own, equally charming traditions. Acknowledge that some people won’t get together until Boxing Day or New Year, and bend a little.

The decisions we make for christmas can make a huge difference to keeping our stress levels down. Only by choosing wisely can we maximise our enjoyment of this joyous occasion. By making a conscious decision to plan, being firm with demands from others, and approaching it all with a relaxed attitude, the stress will fade, and everyone will enjoy the vibe. If it is still too much, through sessions with a psychologist Brisbane people can develop stress relieving strategies for every situation.

Signs of Depression

Signs And Symptoms Of Depression

Depression is one of those conditions that everyone has an opinion about, often expressed quite vocally, but also often without a lot of genuine understanding. Some sufferers try to describe what they are experiencing to family and friends, hoping for support and advice, but because the signs are often vague or conflicting, they can feel that their concerns have been down-played or even dismissed. Because they are not able to verbalised their feelings externally, they keep them inside, fearing further rejection. This starts a downward spiralling effect, as they become increasingly unable to deal with even minor issues, and with no outlet, their depressive thought patterns become stronger until they are overwhelmed.

Most people experience feelings of depression at varying times in their life, especially during life-changing events like the loss of a loved one, an unwanted move from one location to another, a relationship break-up or some other major life event. This is part of life, and while the person may feel moody or at a low point for a while, it passes. Often, by attending counselling Brisbane people in these situations are able to deal with their emotions and face the future with a positive outlook.

Depression is often difficult to recognise because it can affect different people in different ways. Some people can become moody, quiet, and will withdraw themselves from social activities they would otherwise have enjoyed, while others may sleep excessively, or conversely, have insomnia when this is not a normal part of their sleep pattern.

This makes depression hard to recognise, but there are some signs and symptoms that can provide an indication that there is something happening that warrants further investigation:

=> A persistent feeling of sadness, despair or emptiness
=> Change in sleep patterns, appetite or weight
=> Lack of control over negative emotions such as pessimism, anger, guilt, irritability and anxiety
=> Marked mood swings during the day i.e. feeling fine in the morning but deteriorating towards afternoon and evening
=> Lack of interest in pleasurable pursuits and forward events
=> Reduced ability to tolerate pain and appearance of numerous new ailments
=> Diminished or absent sex drive
=> Impaired concentration and memory
=> Unmotivated to do even the simplest tasks
=> Reduced energy levels

At some stage of their life, everyone can experience depression but if the feeling persists beyond a few weeks, then it is best to see a qualified doctor to assess the extent of the depression. People suffering from depression can successfully get their lives back together by visiting with a psychologist Brisbane, who can help them to work through the issues that are causing the depression in the first place. Medication is available if it is needed.

Holiday Season Depression

Unrealistic Holiday Season Expectations Cause Undue Stress

Most of us have been raised with the words of “Jingle Bells” indelibly imprinted in our memories, whether it be from numerous shopping centre excursions, listening to endless versions by popular singers on radio, MTV or our parents’ CD collection. These memories, together with the old Christmas movies that appear every year, create an expectation of an experience that is unlikely to be as satisfying in real life as it is in our minds. This may not be immediately recognised as stress, but this kind of pressure, to have the “perfect” holiday season, is causing increasing numbers of people to succumb to depression and abandon the celebrations altogether.

Holiday depression is recognised as a very real consequence of the celebrations going on around the end of each year. Some people see Christmas as a time of sadness, they are not excited by it as many people are and sometimes there can seem to be no reason for they way they feel. By going to counselling Brisbane people feeling this way are able to work through the issues causing these feelings.

One of the major contributors to holiday depression is the expectation that everything associated with the festivities places on all of us. There is pressure to spruce up the house to welcome any visitors, to buy gifts that are beyond the financial means, to be the perfect host or hostess, to have the biggest tree, or the brightest lights, and to create an incredible experience for everyone else, while neglecting our own mental well-being.

A survey that was recently conducted found that the holiday season, instead of excitement and warmth, it caused many people anxiety and stress. The burden of expectation, not only from others but also from within themselves, caused them to dread the occasion. They felt pressured to participate in everything, to spend time with family members they didn’t like and to spend much more money than they could afford.

Older people had different reasons for feeling depressed. The holidays for them were a reminder of good times past with friends and loved family members no longer living, and they were left to contemplate rather than celebrate. As their social circle decreased, so did their interest in the festivities and the activity going on around them.

The situation didn’t improve for the survey respondents with the mention of New Year. Rather it was just another reminder of unfulfilled dreams and resolutions that came to nothing, year after year. With the help of a psychologist Brisbane people suffering this type of depression can be helped to focus their thoughts and activities on positive, enjoyable experiences to beat the holiday blues.