Surviving the Storm: PTSD and The Impacts of Natural Disasters on Communities
Natural disasters impact communities in more ways than are represented. In the media, it is common to see the destruction of small business stores, homes, and public places like libraries, schools, and churches, however,r this is just the physical aftermath of disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and other devastating events. There are times that we will hear about the emotional and psychological responses of members of communities after a natural disaster. Still, there is insufficient focus on the long-term consequences of these events on some individuals. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a disorder where people relive the traumatic events they endured through recurring and unwanted memories, flashbacks, and nightmares (Rousseau, 2024). There can also be physiological responses from the body such as intense and excessive sweating, difficulty sleeping, and losing interest in hobbies and normal day activities. PTSD is a serious disorder that individuals can develop after experiencing and living through a natural disaster.
There are two examples of natural disasters that are important in understanding the development of PTSD and other trauma-related responses to traumatic events. The tsunami that devastated Sri Lanka in 2004 and the constant struggles with natural disasters for Haitians are just two instances where fear, resilience, and restoration all take place. The tsunami that hit Sri Lanka in 2004 was a shock for those living in the community, but the realization of what had happened did not come until later. Watters (2011) mentions that not even days after the disaster, children were more eager to get back to school and the classrooms than they were to process their emotions about what had just happened to them. Sri Lankans also tried to abandon their refugee camps days after the disaster and preferred to go back to the ruins of their villages than to depend on family, friends, or others for any help. This is a sign of avoidance and being “in denial” as Watters (2011) calls it. There were a few responses to the natural disaster that were quite noteworthy. Opposite to common Western responses, Sri Lankans were more likely to experience physical symptoms after devastating events such as headaches, joint or muscle issues, or pains in the chest. In addition to this, Sri Lankans saw the negative consequences of natural disasters in terms of the damage done to social relationships, rather than pathological reactions (anxiety, fear, numbing, etc.) as Western culture does (Watters, 2011). These differences in responses and reactions to traumatic events call for more resources oriented toward resilience and building back what has been lost. Possible strategies could include group therapy, mindful practices, and more education on how to cope with physical, emotional, and psychological reactions to natural disasters and devastating events such as the tsunami in Sri Lanka.
In Haiti, it is common to hear of hurricanes, tsunamis, and earthquakes that destroy the country and leave them with unfortunate impacts on the community and its members. The impacts of a hurricane are often associated with economic factors such as poverty, inequalities, and housing crises (Nicolas et al., 2010). Haiti is a country that is vulnerable to natural disasters where a lack of resources and lack of preparedness is not in favor of the inhabitants. However, Nicolas and colleagues (2010) emphasize that family, religion, community, and unique cultural practices are what help with their resilience to the negative consequences of natural disasters. Rousseau (2013) promotes resilience through the practice of yoga for Haitians during the post-earthquake period. This trauma-informed integrative mindfulness program (TIMBo) seeks to alleviate the symptoms of trauma and to offer strategies for prevention. By encouraging these practices, coping with and managing emotional, physical, and psychological reactions to traumatic events may offer preventative strategies.
References
Nicolas, G., Schwartz, B., & Pierre, E. (2010). Weathering the storm like bamboo: The strengths of Haitians in coping with natural disasters. In International handbook of emotional healing: Ritual and practices for resilience after mass trauma. Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.
Rousseau, D. (2024) Module 1 and 4: Introduction to trauma, pathways to recovery – understanding approaches to trauma treatment. Blackboard. BU.edu.
Rousseau. D, & Jackson, D. (2013). Promoting resilience through yoga: Profiling the implementation of trauma-informed integrative mindfulness programming in post-earthquake Haiti. Journal of Yoga Service.
Watters, E. (2011). The wave that brought PTSD to Sri Lanka. In Crazy Like Us. Robinson.