This day marks the one year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, a massive storm that ravaged the east coast, primarily New York and New Jersey. The devastation was unforeseen, and images of the wreckage barely did justice to the true reality of the storm's destruction. Without electricity and heat for over two weeks, many people experienced traumatic events such as having to evacuate their homes, loss or damage to property, inability to leave their homes, and a dramatic change in lifestyle. For several, going to work was an impossibility, and the few routines that we use as anchors for stability were not feasible. In Staten Island, you could see people siphoning gas from others' cars, and across New York and New Jersey cars stretched out for miles at gas stations. An alien sight to many, people stood on lines with handfuls of plastic gas containers, hoping to get gas before it ran out. In the chilly October weather, thousands went without heat, many in flooded homes. And as soon as we began to recover, we were hit by a tremendous snowstorm, adding further insult to injury.
Given the dramatic images and experiences of Sandy, it is not uncommon that many people also experienced acute or post-traumatic stress disorder. In fact, vicarious stress was also common, as the images of the damage were quite shocking. Both acute and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) share signs and symptoms. Acute traumatic stress disorder lasts for two weeks before resolving, whereas PTSD is considered if symptoms last beyond that. Some common symptoms of PTSD include:
- Be-experiencing the event through flashbacks, bad dreams, intruding thoughts
- Avoidance symptoms; staying away from places or events that are reminders of the experience, feelings of numbness, depression, or worry, difficulty remembering the event
- Hyper-arousal symptoms; being easily startled, feelings of tension, difficulty concentrating or sleeping
- In children, these symptoms may manifest in the form of bed-wetting, being unusually clingy, and acting out the event during play.
While a year has passed and many of us have gotten back to our normal lives, it is difficult to forget how badly Sandy impacted our lives. Despite restoration and rebuilding, the toll from the aftermath on our everyday lives even today is staggering.
So how do we continue to take care of ourselves in the wake of tragedy, even into the future? It is important to be aware of any symptoms and/or emotions you may feel at this time. Heightened arousal and intrusive thoughts and memories are common during anniversaries of traumatic events. Some may experience a resurgence of sad or depressive symptoms which can range from mild to severe. Although this is a time in which bad memories may come back, it is also an opportunity to revel in our resilience. Despite the damage and continual losses faced, we have come together as families, friends, neighbors, and even strangers, to help one another in any way we can. Through the destruction, there was a common bond that was felt among the survivors, a bond that helped heal fresh wounds then and can support us now.
Countless research has shown that sharing our stories, particularly in writing, is incredibly therapeutic and useful in the healing process. With that in mind, over the next few days I am making myself available for anyone who wishes to talk about their Sandy Story. We can talk about what happened, how you made it through those troubling weeks, and how you continue to move forward. The comment section of this blog will also be used as a way for us to reach out to one another. If you wish to talk with me directly, you can email me at: jm18893p@pace.edu.
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