Typhoon Mangkhut was the most intense typhoon to hit Hong Kong since the mid-1940s.1 A close encounter with the typhoon might leave an indelible impact on our psyches.
Effects of post-disaster stress
We’re not just referring to emotional discomfort, but your physical and mental wellness as well. Here are just a few symptoms commonly exhibited by survivors of a disaster.
- Physical symptoms
- Nausea
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Mental symptoms
- Flashbacks to the event
- Depression and anxiety
- Giddiness and disorientation
Coping with a disaster
If you or your loved ones are exhibiting any of the above symptoms, here are some suggestions on how to cope.
- Talk about it. Ventilating your feelings in front of a supportive and sympathetic audience is perhaps the single most important action you can take. Share your feelings with your friends and family, and work with them to discover what the underlying causes of these emotions are.
- Develop a structure to your day. You may find it harder to cope when your mind is constantly wandering to events on the day of the typhoon. Occupy your day with meaningful activities to give your mind minimum chance to wander, and develop a daily routine.
With the support of family and friends, and awareness that it takes time for any of us (no matter how long) to learn to cope with disaster, we can put the events of Typhoon behind us — and perhaps learn to view it as a learning experience.
Sources
- https://www.scmp.com/topics/typhoon-mangkhut. Viewed on 7 Oct 2018.
