Mother Nature Leaves a Storm of Mental Health Concerns

PRNewswise: Hurricane season may be almost over but the mental health storm of repercussions is not. Besides destruction, hurricanes have brought a lot of fear to the people that live in storm prone areas. The shock of a powerful storm targeting and rampaging through your once safe home and neighborhood is unimaginable to most. And when it does hit, it can wipe away everything a family has built over a lifetime, leaving them homeless and sometimes emotionally unstable. Disasters like Hurricane Katrina can be traumatic. Traumatic events not only affect survivors and rescue workers but also their friends and relatives. According to the CDC, fear, grief, anxiety and depression may set in. Physical and behavioral responses can include nausea, dizziness, changes in appetite, disturbed sleep patterns and social withdrawal. Responses to trauma can last for weeks to months before victims start to feel normal again. Most people report feeling better within twelve weeks after a traumatic event. But sometimes the problem can become worse or last longer than one month. If this occurs then the person may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).