How to cope as disaster takes a toll on mental health

A disaster, like the floods that hit Kerala, could trigger the fear of death in people's mind. At this juncture, interventions are needed to enable flood-affected people to regain their mental energy. They do not need complicated therapies. Instead, they need to have the company of people who could hear them out and console them, which is an integral part of the initial treatment in mental disorders. It lays the foundation for the rebuilding of minds.

How to understand

The common symptoms include recurring thoughts of life-threatening events, helplessness and depression thinking about the losses incurred, uncontrollable fear, shock at hearing even small sounds, anxiety caused by memories of floods, self-criticism, carelessness, inability to think, tiredness, loss of confidence and sleeplessness.

They must be told that these are natural, and they need to overcome them to carry on with their lives. Everyone won't be affected. But those affected should be identified and given help.

Who can be involved

• You can help if you could understand their issues and offer them emotional help.

• If you have patience to hear them out, join. There shouldn't be any time limits. You should give them time till he or she gets relief.

• You need to have the skills to help them answer freely with your open-ended questions.

• You should be able to control yourselves during emotional outbursts of the person who is sharing his or her pain and do not be judgemental.

• Can you understand the pain that is expressed through body language and silence?

• You should be capable of helping the affected feel compassion, warmth and care.

• You should not give hollow promises. Avoid giving them advice.

• Can you spot those requiring advanced care and help them get it?

What counsellors can do

• Listen to the affected patiently.

• If they are sharing their fear on their own don't stop them. Don't try to get them to get into specifics. Recognise their emotional outburst and anxieties.

• Let them speak without any restrictions.

• Give them information that are genuine. They need to adapt to realities.

• You can generate hope in them by pointing to the overwhelming social support seen now.

• Help them find the strengths of their mind that could have helped them overcome difficulties in the past. Rekindle their survival instincts.

• Encourage them to get back to day-to-day life and activities that could provide happiness and peace.

• Help them to get back to healthy habits that could provide solace to mind. It could be prayers, listening to music or breathing exercises.

If you are distressed what you should do on your own

There are several things those affected by the floods could do on their own to rebuild their minds.

• It is common for the mind to become agitated when something beyond imagination happens to you. Don't try to suppress your emotions. Try to open up to someone and let go the tension. Otherwise you are inviting more troubles, including suicidal tendencies.

• In a disaster situation, do not blame yourself or others. It will only increase the pain.

• Never rely on alcohol or other drugs to find relief. This will work against rehabilitation.

• Try to go back to daily activities and remain active.

• Take care to sustain mental peace and health. Try to have enough food, rest, sleep, exercise even within limitations.

• It is normal to think about things that you could lose, or you have lost in the floods. But this should not be in a such a way that you withdraw to yourself. Never break communication ties with family members and friends. Togetherness in such situations is godsend.

• When you are tormented by burning thoughts, think about the little moments that provided you happiness in the past. You can pray and meditate.

• You need to have a mind that could recognise realities. You need to have the perseverance to rebuild your life with available resources. Your mind is the treasure trove of inner strength that could take you back to life. You need to find that. You need to plug the loopholes. You will definitely be able to do it.

(Dr C J John is a consultant psychiatrist at Medical Trust Hospital in Kochi.)

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