Mental health specialists say fear, anger normal in weeks following a natural disaster

ALBANY — After the initial phase of recovery is over, feelings stemming from a disaster start to surface and have an impact on people.

Dana Glass, chief clinical officer for Aspire Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Services, said signs and symptoms consistent with depression or anxiety often come about following a natural disaster. As a result people sometimes have difficulty carrying out daily tasks and end up living in fear.

“(The signs) can been seen right away, but the shock over what has happened (often results in a delayed onset),” said Glass. “They are taking care of basic needs. When things start to stabilize, it is like a grief process.

“When they realize everything is gone, that sets feelings into action.”

Glass said the emotional impact can often be more taxing than the financial burdens of disaster, and can be longer lasting. In the absence of support, the emotional toll can be worse, she said.

Within a couple of weeks, Glass said, Aspire will likely have a crisis counseling team consisting of at least six people going door-to-door in the storm-ravaged areas to see what the needs are of those impacted by the natural disasters that took place on Jan. 2 and Jan. 22.

This is in addition to the open access hours Aspire conducts from 7:30 a.m.-noon on Monday-Friday at its center located at 601 W. 11th Ave.

Such a commitment would help to meet a need Aspire professionals have already noticed.

“We have started to see more calls, more people coming in for help,” Glass said. “(Those coming in are) not necessarily in crisis, but those with more severity of (mental health) symptoms.”

“We have noticed an uptick. What we expect to see in the next 30 days is more of an uptick.”

Some people who have been impacted emotionally or mentally may be walking around and appear to be fine, because it is hard to know for certain what might be going on in a person’s head — which makes talking things out critical.

Those already suffering from mental illness may show an escalation in their symptoms.

“Stress can (be harmful) to anyone,” Glass said. “When it exists (for) someone struggling from day to day, it is definitely a high-risk situation.”

Impact on every day function, reduced attention span and productivity are among the things to look for in someone who is experiencing something beyond the financial impacts of a highly stressful event. Physical symptoms, as well nightmares and new sets of fears, can also manifest Glass said.

Time frames are different for everyone, but for most people, a long-term effect might be a sign of something more.

“If it persists for more than seven consecutive days, it may be at the point you may need to seek assistance,” Glass said. “(We) look for duration and impact on their function. If they are still able to function, they can probably manage it on their own.”

Apart from working in leisure activities and exercise, Glass said a sense of normalcy can help with coping.

“Stick to as much of a routine schedule as you are able to,” Glass said. “Talk to someone, especially someone with the same experience you have.”

Garnie Mitchell, a counselor who provides behavioral health services to the employees at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, said acute stress symptoms typically improve. If they are prolonged, the person needs to seek help.

“It is very natural, many of these reactions,” she said.

Mitchell said changes in sleep patterns and appetite, dizziness, headaches and stomach aches can be connected to the reactions often seen following stressful events. Some may experience flashbacks, anger, fear, depression, sadness and loneliness — which might come to re-surface on holidays or certain anniversary dates.

“Mentally, people might be confused, and have trouble with concentration and memory,” said Mitchell. “Behaviorally, there might be withdrawal and anger outbursts.”

Often, Mitchell said, a person will feel like they are “losing it,” and feel some stigma associated with that. Once they find out it is a natural response, they feel a lot better.

“Usually symptoms disappear, and if they do not, (they need to) get help,” she said.

Because everyone has different reactions, the coping strategy most people use is to put on a strong front, but often, the solution is the precise opposite. Mitchell advises those people should seek support.

“People need give themselves time to recover,” she said.

Natural disasters also affect children, who often need to feel safety in their environment. Mitchell said affection and keeping routines might help during times they will feel more fearful and “clingy.”

“Adolescents have more of a behavioral response, but there are less likely to talk about it because of how teens are,” she said.

Dr. Nick Carden of the Renaissance Centre spoke with the counselors of the Dougherty County School System prior to school starting back following the Jan. 22 tornado, and has seen children affected by the fallen trees, high winds and power loss associated with both storms.

Carden said anyone experiencing a loss may experience something similar to post-traumatic stress disorder, and worsened anxiety, and those with bipolar disorder might have an increased likelihood of suffering an episode.

Even those who have not be diagnosed with a mental illness may experience grief and fear before accepting the circumstances and allowing themselves to move on.

“Those who have lost people, they just have to grieve that loss,” he said.

Carden said children are unique in that they do not have the life experiences and mental capacity of adults, so they have an enhanced sense of fear and anxiety.

There is one child he said he has seen who is continually looking at the weather reports.

“Adults have the ability to think through that,” he said. “They don’t have the reasoning power to think through it like adults, so they need reassurance.”

Carden said that after the Flood of 1994, part of the recovery effort was making sure people knew how to process what they had been through. Likewise, after an officer is involved in a shooting, Carden said he will sit with the officer two or three days later to see where their head is at once they have taken the time to think about the situation they have been in.

The emotional scars that remain for storm victims after their immediate needs are met fall under the same principle. Eventually, they need to turn to someone they can trust — a counselor, minister, friend or family member — and talk things out with the goal that a victim will respond appropriately.

“Some reach that place faster than others,” Carden said.

Carden said even survivor’s guilt is common among those not directly impacted, which can be helped by serving those who are suffering so they can focus on other things. The overall goal, he said, is to normalize a person’s feelings, because the feelings will usually pass.

Even if a person does not believe they have a serious problem, it does not hurt to see someone who might be able to help, Mitchell said.

The Aspire Behavioral Health Crisis Center offers 24/7 walk-in access with emergency receiving capability, a temporary observation unit and crisis stabilization beds. For more information, call (229) 430-4140.