Coping with Disaster

The numerous things covered beforehand are about the best you can do to prepare psychologically for a disaster. But what about after. Disasters are very traumatic; take hope children are extremely resilient. However there are some important factors to consider
      1)      Children do and will react differently than adults.
      2)      Children are still developing psychologically so that are in greater need of that support
Recovering emotionally/psychologically from a disaster may take longer than the clean up and physical recovery. However in all things early intervention is key.

Children interpret the world differently than adults, and this applies to disasters in particular

—       They’re biggest concerns are typically that it will happen again, someone close to them will be killed or injured, or they will be separated from family or left alone.
—       The disaster is viewed as a personal threat to them and their loved ones
—       Their fears stem from their imaginations
—       They are concrete thinkers – so there is a need for direct answers
—       They are physical in their grief and stress
—       The effects of a disaster will be magnified as they are still developing and will need to construct their identity around what ever damage was done. Be vigilant and quick to address their psychological needs.

What you will be doing to help them cope for the most part will be addressing those concerns and viewpoints.

Remember that all children are affected, right down to infants. Research suggests that children experience the effects doubly – directly from the event and indirectly from the effects on their parents and other trusted adults.

How you react will decide how they will react. If you can’t cope, neither will they. IT IS EXTERMLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU ARE PSYCHOLOGICALLY PREPARED AND THAT YOU TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!!!! There is also secondary traumatization - we may be unaffected while the disaster is close by, and have affected loved ones and go through similar emotional trauma symptoms.