Hurricane Season Stress Management: Creating Mental Resilience-Part 1!

 

Creating Mental Resilience during Hurricane Season

By, Life Coach- Nafije Prishtina

 

June 1st is the start of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. Recently the local news announced that The National Hurricane Center has released the list of names you can expect to hear from meteorologists. When it comes to hurricane preparation in Florida most individuals have learned to put the shutters on, learned the importance of gathering extra food and supplies but sometimes individuals don’t understand the importance in taking time to prepare mentally for the extra stress that comes during hurricane season. Yes, prepare for Hurricane Stress!

 

As a new resident of Florida I had to learn about hurricane preparation the hard way. After two years living in my dream destination on the Atlantic coast, purchasing our home only few miles from the coast, Florida got hit with Hurricane Irma, a Category 5. Prior to the hurricane we watched the news as they warned us to board up windows and be prepared to evacuate. That’s exactly what we did. My husband purchased hurricane shutters and boarded the house with the help of a neighbor. We felt prepared, until we started freaking out as the grocery stores went empty and long lines at the gas pumps.

 

The idea that we may run out of food, gas, and electricity brought some anxiety, reminding me of unpleasant memories from my Kosovo war experiences. I felt very vulnerable not knowing what will happen to me and my family, and it was just as hard on my emotional wellbeing as the possibility of getting hit with a “Cat 5.” For this reason, we decided to leave our house and evacuate up north.

 

According to FEMA, recognizing and addressing our emotional health while preparing for disasters can reduce anxiety and distress (González, 2018). To develop mental resilience during hurricane season, we first have to recognize that it is normal to feel stressed, overwhelmed or anxious about your safety and your families’ safety.

 

Common reactions to natural disasters such as hurricane are:

Disbelief and shock, fear, stress, anxiety, sadness, depression and feeling powerless.  Sometimes the emotional toll on people can be even more devastating than the financial strain caused by the damage or loss of property.

Unfortunately for us, hurricane Irma, not only took a toll on our emotional, physical, and financial wellbeing, we came home to find a moldy smelling kitchen and water damage in the house. The roof, kitchen cabinets, drywall and flooring all had to be replaced. All that and total upheaval throughout the house.

Honestly, nothing could prepare us for such devastation, however, I decided to make peace with what happened to us and focus my energy into problem solving, so we could focus with the “unexpected” house projects. The new roof is helping us feel safer for future hurricanes.

What I learned is that creating mental resilience is key for hurricane preparations. In addition to putting shutters on our homes, and purchasing extra food and supplies, we need to take extra steps to prepare mentally before the hurricane; learn to recognize the symptoms of stress and adopt mindful ways to prepare and manage our stress during and after the hurricane.

Some tips to help you prepare mentally before and during the Hurricane:

According to an article from the American Psychological Association (APA), preparing for and anticipating the arrival of a large-scale hurricane can be distressing for people living in the hurricane’s path. There may be uncertainty ahead about your living arrangements, work, and other important life factors, especially if you have been evacuated. You may also be concerned about storm damage to your home, neighborhood, and community. The near-constant stream of news about the storm’s arrival can give rise to feelings of stress, anxiety and fear.

Recognizing these common emotional reactions and taking steps to prepare for the storm will be helpful in safeguarding your emotional well-being. The following recommend steps are effective ways to prepare to manage your storm-related fears and anxiety. Follow these six tips: essential ingredients for a healthy lifestyle.  Adopting these steps will improve your overall emotional and physical well-being before and during the hurricane season.

1.        Have an emergency plan and implement it. It is important to have a plan for you and your family (including pets) to be safe during the storm. Find out about available transportation, relatives who might be able to take you in, shelter locations, and other important details. Knowing in advance that you are prepared for the storm can lessen your anxiety.

2.     Get the facts. Gather information that will help you accurately determine your risk so that you can take reasonable actions. Find a credible source you can trust such as your governor’s office, local or state public health agencies, or the National Weather Service. Stop watching after the storm, limit your exposure to news reports that focus on damage and destruction.

3.     Make connections. Good relationships with close family members, friends or others are important. You may find that you may need to rely on electronic forms of communication to stay in touch with your loved ones. Your outreach and connecting with others also preparing for the arrival of a hurricane is an additional source of support.

4.     Stay healthy. A healthy lifestyle—including proper diet, exercise, and rest—is your best defense against any threat. A healthy body will positively impact your thoughts and emotions, enabling you to make smarter decisions and deal more effectively with the hurricane’s uncertainties.

5.     Reach out to your children. Help children by restricting continuous news views, give them realistic assurances that plans are in place to keep them safe. Maintain routines as much as possible.

6.     Maintain a hopeful outlook. Remember that the federal government, your state government and many nongovernmental disaster services agencies are tracking and preparing for the hurricane. Draw upon skills that have helped you successfully manage past challenges to help you through the current storm.

I’m happy to report that since the 2017 hurricane, we have done much better at preparing ourselves and the house for the season. I even have a box with projects waiting to be completed during a hurricane. My kids are so resilient, they have gotten used to expecting hurricanes. Last year my then 9- and 12-year-old requested visiting the beach before the hurricane to watch the waves crashing. It was a great experience witnessing Mother Nature in action. Hurricane season also is an opportunity to reflect and educate our children about the environment, global warming, and our planet. We will continue to prepare mentally to improve our overall emotional and physical well-being before and during the hurricane season.

 

To develop emotional resilience, get mentally prepared before the hurricane. Start now by creating an emergency plan for what to do to prepare for the hurricane and print this article to remind you what to do during the hurricane.

 

Ask for a list of references used here.

Stay tuned for my Next Blog to Understand how stress works and how to monitor stressors for self-management!