Hurricane Recovery: Steps to Start Putting Your Life Back in Order


It seems unreal, another major storm hitting Florida after experiencing four last year. The beginning of hurricane season, Floridians were just starting to get past the destructive events that caused many of people stress and even, depression. As Hurricane Dennis comes onshore, the upcoming hours, days, and months afterwards may be ones of disbelief and shock. There are ways to help get one?s life back in order after these type of predicaments.

Express your emotions when you feel them. If you feel urge to cry, give into it. It's probably the healthiest things you can do for your body as it looks for a way to release any build-up of tension. Don?t be surprised, too, if you seem to have your act together and then at the least expected moment, tears erupt again. Be kind and understanding with yourself whether others are or not.

Talk about your feelings, concerns, and fears. Be honest. Say them out loud to your family, friends, boss, and co-workers. If you can?t get the words out verbally, write them in a letter. You might be surprised that others feel exactly the way you do but were hesitant to express them.

Ask for help immediately. Let your ego step forward. Don?t keep your needs to yourself. Reduce as much stress as you can today. From a bottle of water to an extension on paying a bill, register with FEMA, call your insurance company, and contact your creditors as soon as possible. Getting these things out of the way gives you more energy to deal with other things

Accept help immediately. Now is not the time for pride to stand in the way. Those that offer help are usually in a place to do so are, or they probably wouldn't have extended their invitation in the first place. Take them up on their offer without excuses. Food, a place to stay, clothing, or transportation can again leave you with less to worry about right now. Worry about how to provide payback on any of this later when your life is back in order. You'll be in a better place to consider your thank- yous and they might end up being more what is needed by your benefactors anyway.

Life after a traumatic event such as a hurricane may be life-altering so expect some time to pass before you feel like yourself again. Remember that free professional help is available from government, church, and other charitable organizations at times like this. They were designed for moments like these.

Copyright 2005 Kathy Iwanowski. All Rights Reserved.

Kathy Iwanowski, a former cancer nurse and manager, creates art, speaks, and writes about creative living and work. She resides in Florida. Her articles, editorials, and reviews on art, business, creativity, and nursing subjects have been published in newsletters, ezines, and books in the United States.

To arrange for Kathy as a speaker for your next event or to find out more about her work, visit her website at http://www.kathyiwanowski.com

More Resources

Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting

More Depression Information:

Related Articles

Tuning the Music Therapist
Music so strongly evokes emotional responses that it is being more frequently employed in the context of psychotherapy as a powerful healing modality. As a novice in this field I inquired at a recent conference on music therapy as to how this tool effects healing in clients with emotional disorders.
Depression is Underdiagnosed in College Students
Everyone feels down or blue once in awhile. Especially during difficult times, it's normal to feel sad or discouraged.
Mental Health Stigma - What Can We Do About It?
What is Stigma? Stigma is the use of stereotypes and labels when describing someone, and it is often attached to people who suffer from mental health issues. We don't fully understand how the brain works yet, but one thing we DO know is that it is an organ.
Reclaiming Your Life From Anxiety Symptoms
Only somebody who has lived with anxiety - as either a sufferer or a carer - knows how devastating it can be. The affect can be seen and felt across every aspect of your life for years and years.
When Your Fears and Depression Have the Best of You
What do you do when your fears and depression are stronger than what you can handle? There are times that no matter what you do, your fears have the best of you. Here is a list of techniques and suggestions on what to do when this happens.
A Simple Cure For Anxiety And Depression
Our innate desire is to be happy, and when we move away from it, we experience fear.This fear is actually millions of years old, for it arises from the biological programming of our species.
5 Way Tips To Manage Depression
Being lonely is a normal share of our everyday lives. Weget sad when we fail in our exams, when we are rejected bythe individual we love, or even when someone extremely close to uspasses away.
FDA Approves Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a Treatment for Depression
On July 15th, 2005, the U.S.
Quick Steps To Reduce Your Worries
Looking for a way to reduce the amount of worrying you do?Edward W. Smith, motivational speaker, author and TV show host, who specializes in quick tips on how to move your life ahead even faster, offers the following advice.
25% of Americans Suffer From a Mental Illness and do Not Get Adequate Relief From Antidepressants
According to the June 7th issue of the Wall Street Journal, more Americans are seeking treatment for mental illnesses than ever before, but most of them fail to get adequate care, according to a major new government study.In the once-a-decade report funded by the National Institutes of Health(NIH), researchers found that one-quarter of Americans had a psychiatric disorder in the year prior to the survey, and 40% of them sought treatment, up from just 25% who sought treatment in the previous report a decade ago.
What About Drugs for Anxiety and Depression?
As a counselor, I am often asked, "Can drugs be helpful for anxiety and depression?" The answer I give is "Yes" and "No."Yes, drugs may be useful for short-term help.
Change Your Life Forever with New Medical Breakthrough Treatment for Depression
With the next few weeks, the FDA is expected to issue its final approval of vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment for chronic or recurrent depression. The approval of vagus nerve stimulation will be the first ever FDA approved long-term treatment option for the four million desperate Americans( and their families) who have not had an adequate response to traditional anti-depressants.
New Treatment for Depression to be Presented at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting
Within the next few weeks, the FDA is expected to issue its final approval of a medical breakthrough treatment for chronic or treatment-resistant depression. This new therapy will be presented at the American Psychiatric Association's Annual Meeting in Atlanta from May 21st-May 25th.
Depression and EPA Fish Oil - Does It Really Work?
It is now no secret that people all over the western world are turning to high grade ethyl EPA omega 3 fish oil to treat a number of conditions, but can it really work against a problem that knows no boundaries of age, race or gender. It is a condition that affects millions of people at some time in there lives, it's called depression.
Vagus Nerve Stimulation Should be Used Early in Treatment when Traditional Antidepressants Fail
Lifetime Prevalence of Depression and the Age-of-Onset Report Distributions of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM) in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication The paragraph title sounds complicated, but the study conclusions are critical and simple to understand. Lifetime prevalence estimates are as follows: anxiety disorders, 28.
ADHD and Depression -- More Common Than Thought
"Thanks for Noticin' Me" says Eeyore. He walks slowly.
Psychiatrist Begin Training About Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Depression
The manufacturer of the vagus nerve stimulator has begun face-to face meetings with psychiatrists nationwide to educate them about vagus nerve stimulation therapy, how it works and for whom this treatment is indicated. It is very important that both you and your psychiatrist fully understand vagus nerve stimulation therapy so that you can make an informed decision together about this ninety-minute out-patient implant procedure.
Tips to Beat Depression
We all have days when we are down, worn out and just not feeling all that happy.That's okay.
Depression Series: Why Don't I Respond to Medications? (Part 1)
Maria has been feeling depressed for at least two and a half years. About three years ago, her husband of 20 years left her for another woman.
Learn To Take Control of Depression
While depression is a growing epidemic in western society, it remains to be one of the most treatable as well. While the medical profession looks first to medication, I believe only the most severe cases require any long-term medical treatment.