The Alfred cyclone is already retraumatized people who survived other disasters. I am one of them

In 2011, AS ISA cyclone I was approaching the Queensland coast, I sat at home in a tropical north of the state and worried what the future would bring. Would my family be okay? Would our house be destroyed? Would my workplace be damaged and my work is uncertain? Would my community be devastated?

Now that we are waiting for Cyclone Alfred to make a landing, I watch from my recent home in Melbourne. I’m sheltered. But last night I couldn’t sleep. I have intrusive thoughts, remembering how it was when Cyclone Yasi fell into us. I feel livid, dispersed and restless. The report from the upcoming cyclone makes my heart race, so I turned off the TV.

As someone who has been investigating the influence of disasters for over 20 years, I will realize that now, I feel like I feel, it is similar to how I felt all these years ago. Again, I experience the normal range of common stress reactions after surviving the disaster, although this one does not affect me directly.

This is known as Retraumatizationwhere we experience stress reactions experienced as a result of a traumatic event in the face of a recent, similar incident.

As an emergency researcher to a wide range of disasters, I understand why I feel like this.

However, many people may not realize that the stress they are now experiencing is associated with an earlier disaster or a traumatic event in their lives. This earlier disaster can be another cyclone or other event, such as flood or fire in the bushes.

There may be some signs and symptoms of retraumatization:

• Informational thoughts (for example, I remember my fear of the expected tide of the water tides throwing at me in the dim when Cyclone Yasi landed)

• nightmares and sleep problems

• Hypervigilance (for example, feeling “on the edge” all day)

• Sensitivity to triggers (for example, the sound of intense wind and windows can cause intense feelings because they remind me of the night in which we experienced cyclone yasi passing over us)

• I feel isolated

• Thinking about planning or attempting to suicide

• Panic

• Apply/abuse of substances such as alcohol and other drugs

• Height of unhealthy behavior (for example, being more susceptible to aggression or violence).

For many of us, the Alfred cyclone arouses memories and feelings, and the re -appearance of these stress reactions can be confronted. It may seem that the re -opening of the wound, which did not quite heal.

The catastrophe after the disaster take their toll

We are now starting to understand the effects of exposure to many disasters – fires of bushes, cyclones, floods and do not forget about the pandemic with Kodcja – which eroded our immunity.

This type of repeated exposure affects our sense of security, security and even our hope for the future, all escalate the risk worse mental health.

In the case of people with post -traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), retrajumatization may cause that people are experiencing their past traumas in intense details. It may seem Earlier traumatic events happen again.

What to do now and in the future

However, there are steps that we can take to assist build our immunity in the face of many disasters.

For now

It is worth understanding at the moment How we react to trauma. We can see a number of physical reactions (for example, my heart raced), psychological reactions (for example, I feel more restless than usual) and social effects (for example, I canceled dinner plans last night, because I did not want to leave the house).

It is also crucial Stay in contact with our ordinary social supportBecause they can act as a huge stress reaction buffer.

So, despite the fact that I stopped last night, I was in group chat, discussing real housewives from Sydney with friends, which helped reduce both the reactions of physical and mental stress I experienced.

For later

In the long run, it is useful to develop and implement Self -clinic plan This includes activities supporting our emotional, physical and spiritual health.

Care, which means devoting time to doing things that assist your well -being and improve physical health and mental health. This can assist deal with stress reactions that may appear as part of retrajumatization. Even miniature self -care acts in everyday life can have a great impact.

Today I devoted time for a compact walk around the park and listened to some of my favorite music. It helped at the moment, but it also helps me in the long run, when I routinely include these little self -care acts in my everyday life.

We must also consider The first respondents and volunteers who will prepare for the Alfred cyclone i community Similar disasters devastated in the past (for example, floods 2022 in Lismore, recent southern Wales). With their exposure to cumulative trauma, these groups will need Permanent, concentrated support.

Most importantly, we must understand that the way we feel is normal. Be patient with yourself and look for miniature opportunities to take control of reactions.

I keep the television switching off (except when real housewives are turned on).

Some resources

The Blukot website, from the National Center of Excellence for Sophisticated Trauma, contains more information on how we do Answer the trauma. Black Dog Institute leads you by developing Self -clinic plan.

If you are the first respondent, you can access free treatment and support via a number of suppliers, including: Phoenix AustraliaIN Australian Strong and Black Dog Institute.

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If this article has raised problems for you or you are worried about someone you know, call Lifeline to number 13 11 14.