Coping Emotionally with Disaster

• Be aware of exhaustion. Don’t try to do too much at once. Set priorities and pace yourself. Get enough rest.
• Drink plenty of clean water.
• Everyone who sees or experiences a disaster is affected by it in some way. Everyone has different needs and different ways of coping. As a person with diabetes you may be more impacted by the stress so be sure to monitor glucose levels regularly.
• It is normal to feel anxious about your own safety and that of your family and close friends. Spending time with family and friends can be comforting and help reduce anxiety.
• Profound sadness, grief, and anger are normal reactions to an abnormal event. This is especially true if you have experienced a loss of life or property.
• Acknowledging your feelings helps you recover. Don’t be afraid to seek trauma counseling.
• A disaster often makes you feel powerless. Focusing on your strengths and abilities helps you heal.
• Accepting help from community programs and resources is healthy.

Recognize Signs of Disaster Related Stress

• Difficulty communicating thoughts, disorientation or confusion, difficulty concentrating. 
• Difficulty sleeping, low threshold for frustration, difficulty maintaining balance in their lives. 
• Increased use of drugs/alcohol, headaches/stomach problems, tunnel vision/muffled hearing, colds or flu-like symptoms. 
• Reluctance to leave home. 
• Depression, sadness, feelings of hopelessness, mood-swings and easy bouts of crying. 
• Overwhelming guilt and self-doubt. 
• Fear of crowds, strangers, or being alone.

Easing Disaster-Related Stress

• Take steps to promote your own physical and emotional healing by eating healthy, getting plenty of rest and meditation. 
• Maintain as normal a family and daily routine as possible. If necessary, limit additional demands. ing responsibilities on yourself and your family. 
• Participate in memorials. 
• Use existing support groups of family, friends, and religious institutions.
• Ensure you are ready for future events by restocking your disaster supplies kits and updating your family disaster plan. Doing these positive actions can be comforting.