Environmental disasters can wreak havoc on communities. Whether it’s a tornado, hurricane, flooding, or fire, these catastrophes can be difficult to comprehend, let alone work through.
While most people tend to focus on the physical aspects of a disaster—including what’s been lost and how to start restoration efforts—it’s important to understand how they affect your mental health, too.
These types of disasters happen all the time throughout the country. Recently, however, a line of fires in Colorado caused mass devastation, destroying over 1,000 homes and structures in the Boulder area.
Marshall fire victims aren’t necessarily any different from anyone else who has gone through an environmental disaster. But, this particular issue was so big that it made national news.
So, it can serve as an important reminder of the connection between environmental disasters and mental health. These victims need to know how they can cope and move forward with their lives.
Why Do Environmental Disasters Impact Mental Health?
There are several reasons why environmental disasters can cause such mental turmoil. First, they can trigger a lot of fear. Whether you have time to evacuate your home and get to safety or not, there are plenty of “what if” questions to ask yourself. You might wonder if you’ll have a home to come back to. Maybe you’re worried about your family’s safety.
On top of it all, no one really knows the impact of an environmental disaster until the moment it hits. Uncertainty often causes anxiety to flare up.
That kind of fear can linger long after the disaster is over. When you return home or survive the disaster, you might struggle with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after going through something so frightening. It’s not uncommon to experience flashbacks or have certain things “trigger” your fear for years to come.
Coping With Loss
Another reason environmental disasters affect your mental health is due to grief.
Most people associate grief with the loss of a person. But, it can stem from the loss of your home, your belongings, or even a certain way of life.
Dealing with grief is a process—one that happens in stages. You might experience everything from denial to anger throughout your personal grieving process, and working through each stage is crucial before moving to the next.
So many Marshall fire victims came back to nothing. Their homes were completely gone, as well as local businesses, the homes of family members, and any sense of “normalcy” they were used to. Many of those victims are likely still dealing with various stages of grief, and some might have a harder time working through them than others.
How to Cope After an Environmental Disaster
Working with a mental health professional is one of the best ways to keep moving forward after a disaster. A therapist can help you process your thoughts and feelings and keep them from getting tangled together.
It’s not always easy to talk to someone about what you’re really feeling. But, getting to the root cause of your struggles is the best way to start healing.
It can also help to attend group therapy or talk to others who have gone through similar situations. Knowing you’re not alone and hearing the experiences of others can go a long way. It can provide some hope and letting you know you can get through this—on your timeline, no one else’s.
Whether you’re a Marshall fire victim or you’ve recently gone through another environmental disaster, don’t hesitate to reach out for help and Contact Us or view more information here about Trauma Therapy. No one can control how these disasters happen, but you can take control of what happens next in your life, and you don’t have to let a disaster define you forever. If you’d like to help people impacted by the Colorado Marshall fire, go to Community Foundation Boulder County to donate or Colorado Responds to learn about additional ways to support the community.