Living in an area, such as Houston, TX, that is prone to hurricanes, tropical storms, and floods, can be chaotic and stressful. Most times, one cannot predict the extent of damage these natural disasters might inflict, but the aftermath can be devastating. Natural disasters can play a traumatic part in one’s life, socially, physically, financially, and psychologically. In some cases, they can lead to post traumatic stress disorder, though many people associate PTSD with trauma from combat. Many people who have lived through natural disasters have lost their homes, belongings, or sometimes even loved ones. As a result, there is a great fear of future disasters or a fear of losing everything again.

            If you are living with the fear of natural disasters based on firsthand experience, you are likely facing or have faced shock, anger, and grief as well. You are shocked that this event happened to you, you are angry about the devastations, and you grieve what you lost in the event. These feelings can stay with you even after you get your life back together, as you believe, if it can happen to you once, it will happen again. And, living in a hurricane-prone area does not help. It can remind you of your traumatic experience, especially during hurricane season. During this time, you may experience anxiety, fear, and safety concerns, all of which point to trauma.

            For everyone, whether they have been devastated by a natural disaster or not, the news is where they are informed about these hurricanes or tropical storms and how disastrous they might be. This way, people can prepare themselves and their families, though weather channels might not be so accurate. What may be a severe tropical storm may turn out to be a milder one, but now you have overprepared, and your fear and anxiety has heightened. Or, what was expected to be a mild tropical storm, turned into a hurricane, and now you are experiencing shock, anxiety, and intense fear because you are not sufficiently prepared. Dealing with these fears due to past experience can also lead to nervousness, negative thoughts, and even depression.

            To better control your emotions during an upcoming natural disaster, here are some tips for you and your family:

• Be prepared as much as possible. It will not hurt to take extra measures and to keep a hurricane kit around during hurricane season.
• Ensure that your home is up to safety regulations from your state’s recommended storm preparedness guide.
• Practice deep breathing techniques to calm your nerves, and if you are having concerns or worries, write down your thoughts. Determine if these thoughts are realistic worries, or if they are irrational and are unlikely to occur.
• Do things that will distract you such as reading, cooking, or exercising.

Although past and upcoming natural disasters can be stressful for you, keep in mind that they are, in fact, natural. And, even though it can be difficult to accept that you have no control over them, acknowledging that hurricanes will cause destruction wherever they please, will give you some peace. If you feel as if you are still grieving from a natural disaster and you have increased anxiety and fear of future storms, consider seeing a psychotherapist. Psychotherapy can be trauma-focused to help treat trauma behaviors, and you can move past it. Seeing a therapist can improve your reactions towards future storms, and help prepare you mentally and emotionally.