Struggling with your mental health after surviving a disaster? Here’s how to look after yourself
Associated PressThere’s the initial shock and chaos in a collective disaster like the deadly and destructive California wildfires. “There’s also just sadness and grief.” But there’s also immense gratitude for the support of neighbors, friends and others, which she said has made a huge difference. “It took a long time for me to sort of find that safety again.” Children whose families have been affected by the California fires need their parents’ reassurance that they’re safe, he said. Lauren Mott, core faculty member in the clinical mental health counseling program at the University of Phoenix, suggests avoiding phrases such as: “It could have been worse,” “At least you are alive,” “It is just stuff, you can replace it,” and “I know how you feel.” More helpful, she said, could be saying: “I’m sorry you are going through this,” “How can I help?” “I’m here to listen if you would like to talk.” “The goal is to be respectful, supportive, and empathetic,” she said by email. “I’m saying to people, ‘take some time to pause and journal,’” he said.
History of this topic
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