In the News - March 2008
Patience, support, restorative activities help disaster victims cope with long-term stress
LITTLE ROCK - The widespread flooding in Arkansas has also brought long-term
stress for many.
Arkansans whose homes and farms are submerged may have to wait weeks before
they know the scope of their loss. Those in the 35 counties declared federal
disaster areas are keeping their eyes on the forecast for more rain.
The stress of the situation is undeniable, but the ways it will affect the
people in those flooded areas will vary, said Dr. Wallace Goddard, an extension
family life specialist and professor with the University of Arkansas Division of
Agriculture.
"Neighbors experiencing the exact same thing in the flood may react very
differently," Goddard said. "One of them might be philosophical and say, ‘well,
you know, it was about time to tear down this ramshackle place,’ while to
someone else it might just feel like the end of the world."
Goddard offers three ways that people may be able to keep stress at bay while
they wait for the waters to recede and for their lives to return to normal.
First, he says, be patient. There may not be resolution right away. Some
things take time. Don’t worry too much about those things that cannot be fixed
immediately, but take things a little at a time and eventually progress will be
evident.
Second, find someone who is supportive and talk with that person about what
has happened and how you feel about it. Talking about the pain we feel can help
us process it.
Third, allow yourself to indulge in restorative activities. You may not have
a great deal of free time, but taking a few minutes every day to do things that
you enjoy can bring you energy to deal with the challenges. Maybe delve into
hobbies or take a few minutes to sort through and celebrate items that were
saved from the flood. This may give you renewed optimism.
Growing research supports another theory about stress and stressful events –
that people who have made their way through those things are better able to
adapt to crises than they were before tragedy struck.
"Especially when your household and everything you own has been destroyed, it
may take months, it may take years, but it can lead to a better outcome
long-term," said Goddard.
"That may be hard to believe in the middle of the crisis, but the good news
is that research on humans shows that crises often lead to better adaptation
post-crisis than before."
Goddard speaks from personal experience about the things that can help in
coping with stressful situations. In 1995, he and his wife, Nancy, weathered a
hurricane in Auburn, Ala., and awoke to find a tree on their house and they had
no phone or electric power for weeks.
Though it might seem dubious that something good can come out of something
bad, Goddard feels stronger than he did before the hurricane.
"People rallied around us and lots of folks came and help us and we felt like
afterward that things were better than before. That’s post-traumatic adaptation
at work," he says. "We are stronger and better when we deal with challenges –
even overwhelming ones."
For more information about disaster preparedness, visit the extension's Web
site, www.uaex.edu, or contact your county extension
agent. The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the U of A Division of
Agriculture.
March 28, 20088
By Kimberly Dishongh
For the Cooperative Extension Service
Media Contact: Lamar James
Extension Communications Specialist
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2187 or (501) 753-0207
ljames@uaex.edu
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