Beyond physical health, your mental state can be affected by the stress a weather event brings. Dr. Atabey Torres Lorenzo, a clinical psychologist and president of the emotional health clinic BePResent, walked us through practices you can follow to protect your mental health during a storm.
"A weather event, in particular, can cause anxiety and fear, out of concern for the consequences it may have on your life, quality of life and property. We have to keep in mind that having lived through a major hurricane and its consequences here in Puerto Rico leaves emotional aftereffects," the doctor explained in an interview.
Recommendations we can follow during a weather event:
"Take all necessary safety measures, such as protecting your property and being in a safe place. Likewise, an emergency plan, a go bag and stored food help foster a sense of being prepared to face the situation. That way, the person has done everything within their control to protect themselves and their loved ones."
"Have activities that serve as distractions, for example, books to read, board games and so on. Repeat affirmations that remind you the event is temporary, for example: 'This will pass and we are going to get through this.' You can practice relaxation exercises such as deep breathing."
"Stay in the present. Every time your mind drifts to the future and a catastrophic scenario, remind yourself that it is not happening yet, and use your senses to connect with your present surroundings."
"If you have a mental health diagnosis, keep up with your medication treatment. Talk with the people close to you about how you are feeling and ask them to help distract you."
What emotional aftereffects might we experience?
"It is natural for some people to show different emotional symptoms after a weather event. It is worth noting that events can be traumatic for some people and not for others," the specialist added.
Watch for changes such as:
Intrusive memories of the event
Nightmares about the event
Difficulty experiencing positive emotions
Avoidance of reminders of the event
Sleep problems
Irritability
Hypervigilance
Difficulty concentrating
"Most people recover naturally after a traumatic event, but others may develop a Mental Health Disorder. Effective treatments for trauma exist. Consider seeking help from a mental health professional if you have significant distress associated with a past traumatic event and it is interfering with your life," Torres Lorenzo said.
What is suggested for parents during this time?
"For parents," the doctor said, "we recommend that during the event they help keep children occupied and distracted with activities. They should offer affirmations that make children feel safe and cared for. After the event, we recommend that parents watch for changes in mood, in activities and in sleep patterns (such as nightmares)."
"We recommend that caregivers ask their children how they are feeling and let them know they are there to help. If significant changes are identified after the event, it is important for the child to be evaluated by an emotional health professional," she added.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
