By Alice Merrifield, LCSW, SalusCare’s director of Outpatient Therapy and Psychiatry
Compared with adults, children often suffer more from exposure to natural disasters like hurricanes. In Southwest Florida, where we’ve endured three hurricanes so far this season, repeated exposure to such stress can result in a range of psychological, behavioral and physical problems.
That includes second-hand exposure. According to the National Child Stress Network, children exposed to natural disasters, whether personally or seeing images on television, may show symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety.
Reactions to trauma in children vary widely by age, experiences, reactions of parents and other caregivers, previous exposure to trauma and the presence of other risk and protective factors.
The impact on children starts with the disruption of routines while preparing for a storm and its aftermath. Regular activities and school may be cancelled; families may be displaced by evacuation or storm damage, and unpredictability and danger make children feel powerless and anxious.
Some of these feelings are normal ways of developing resilience and can last for a couple of weeks after the disaster. It is not unusual for children to have trouble sleeping, sleep too much, lose their appetite, overeat, be quiet or withdrawn, obsess about the disaster or its aftermath and have difficulty focusing. Physically, they may complain about headaches, stomach aches or fatigue.
Reactions can also include regression, behavioral changes, demands for extra attention and thinking about themselves over others. These responses are natural and should not be met with anger or punishment. A sensitive, nurturing and calm adult is most important to children’s well-being after a disaster.
Here are some additional tips to help children cope after a severe weather occurrence:
• Help them understand what is happening by providing basic information – but without alarming details.
• Be sure to ask children what questions or concerns they have. It is often difficult for children to express their feelings. Often, they have fears based on limited information or because they misunderstood what they heard.
• Do not tell children they should not be worried. Help them learn how to deal with distressing feelings rather than pretend that these feelings do not or should not exist.
• Make sure they feel safe by establishing predictable routines and meeting basic needs.
• Allow children to play and interact. Boredom can intensify negative thoughts and behaviors.
• Limit children’s exposure to images and descriptions of the disaster, including media and adult conversations. This is especially important for children, but it is critical for adults, too.
• Find age-appropriate ways for children to help. Even very young children benefit from being able to make a positive difference.
• Emphasize that what happened is not their fault and express hope for the future.
• Look for changes in behavior that suggest your child is having difficulty coping.
Not everyone exposed to trauma, whether child or adult, develops PTSD. Most post-storm anxiety will go away in a couple of weeks. However, prolonged symptoms can lead to larger health issues. PTSD has been found to impact up to half of children after natural disasters, causing excessive worry, sadness, heart palpitations and interfering with daily life.
Consider talking to your child’s health care professional when:
• Your child continues to be terribly upset for more than a couple of weeks after the disaster.
• Problems worsen instead of improving over time.
• Reactions impact their behavior in educational settings, relationships with friends and family and schoolwork.
With support from community and family, as well as self-care and recognizing and addressing symptoms, most of us bounce back. With effective treatments for PTSD and other mental health conditions available, early identification and assessment are critical. If stress and trauma become overwhelming, resources and professional help are available, for children and adults.