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This past September floods have affected many people in surrounding Counties. The flooding has ruined basements, schools, and roads across the state. Besides giving people a basement full of water, the flood has also given many people, PTSD.
PTSD stands for post traumatic stress disorder, a disorder after experiencing something extremely overwhelming, or frightening, such as a natural disaster. Even though the flooding happened over a month ago, there is still a lot of damage and much cleanup to do. These day to day reminders can really take a toll on emotions. Some of the symptoms you may experience are nightmares, emotional distress, feeling hopeless, and avoiding places where the traumatic event occurred. If you have PTSD, you’re not alone.
An average of 8% of the Earth’s population has suffered from it at some point. Luckily, it can be treated. While it’s best to seek professional help, you may want to try some of these tips first:
Look for a local support group in your area. That way, you can talk to others who are going through the same things.
You can also try doing something positive for your community, like making care packages. This will help give you the sense that you have control over the situation and are doing something about it to make it better.
You could also talk to a supportive family member or friend about your feelings. Sometimes, all you have to do is to talk it out. Most importantly, take care of yourself. Sleeping, eating, and exercise can really improve your mood. It’s also important to cut down on nicotine and caffeine which can add more stress.
Whether you’re in the 8% of people who have PTSD, or simply overwhelmed by out of control circumstances, you can always take comfort in the fact that you’re not alone and help is available. In Northumberland County call the county mental health services at (570) 495-2040.