Hurricanes are often known for their physical destruction. When you think of a hurricane, it is likely that some powerful images come to your mind- torrential rains, powerful winds, and surging water. However, what is not talked about as much is the emotional impact of a hurricane which can be just as overwhelming as the physical effects.
The devastation brought by recent storms, such as Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene, extend beyond just the physical wreckage left behind. When going through a natural disaster, it is likely that you are experiencing a whirlwind of emotions, from anxiety and fear to grief and helplessness.
In the immediate aftermath of a hurricane, you are likely dealing with a lot of things, from the chaos and uncertainty surrounding evacuations to property damage. This sort of disruption in your life can leave you feeling vulnerable and emotionally exhausted.
Going through a natural disaster once may leave you wondering when the next one will strike. This heightened fear can lead to more stress, insomnia, and even Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. The experience of living through and surviving a hurricane can challenge your sense of safety, creating emotional scars that require mental health healing.
Anchor Therapy is a counseling center in Hoboken, NJ with mental health therapists specialized in helping children, teens, adults, couples, and families with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, trauma, life transitions, and more. Anchor Therapy is accepting new clients and is now providing in-person sessions and teletherapy sessions to residents of New Jersey, New York, and Florida.
The Emotional Toll of Hurricanes
The emotional damage that a hurricane leaves behind is just as destructive as the physical wreckage. While a hurricane may have disrupted your physical space, it also likely affected your emotional life as well. The devastation witnessed by storms like Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene have shown us that survival is not just about physical endurance, but it includes mental and emotional resilience as well.
In the wake of powerful storms, you are left to pick up the emotional pieces of your life. This emotional toll can affect survivors for months or even years, manifesting in long-term mental health struggles. Together, we will explore five emotional effects of hurricanes, showcasing the psychological burden placed on you and your community even after a storm has subsided.
Grief and Loss of Loved Ones and Homes
In the wake of a hurricane, many people find themselves filled with intense anxiety and fear. Studies have shown that there is a 5-40% increase in mental illness post-natural disaster, with the severity level of the disaster and explore level being major contributing factors. The traumatic experience of living through a powerful occurrence, such as a natural disaster, can leave you feeling hyper-vigilant, constantly searching for signs of another storm.
Even when there is no immediate threat, something as small as a change in the weather can trigger anxiety, causing you to think back on the hurricane. Living with this persistent sense of dread makes it hard to relax or enjoy daily activities. Many survivors struggle with sleep disturbances, nightmares, and panic attacks since your mind is living in a constant state of readiness. For support with these matters, check out our blogs “Unlocking the Secrets of Quality Sleep: A Therapist’s Perspective on Sleep Hygiene and Insomnia” and “How To Manage A Panic Attack.”
For some people, the fear of being caught off guard by another storm is so intense that they begin to over-prepare, compulsively checking weather forecasts and making contingency plans for the next potential hurricane. In severe cases, this anxiety can transform into something called anticipatory anxiety where a fear of future storms comes to dominate your thoughts. Over time, heightened anxiety can isolate people since there is a fear of being away from one’s safe place, usually their home, when another hurricane strikes.
If you are struggling with anticipatory anxiety, read our blog “How Psychodynamic Therapy Can Help You Overcome Anticipatory Anxiety.”
2. Grief and Loss of Loved Ones and Homes
Grief is a profound emotion that many experience after a hurricane. Homes, personal belongings, and entire communities are destroyed which can leave you feeling a great sense of loss. For many people, their home represents a safe space filled with memories. Homes can even become a source of identity for many. When a hurricane takes that away, you may feel like a piece of you has been ripped away. If you did not lose your home, you may recall losing personal belongings, like family photos, keepsakes, and heirlooms.
Hurricanes can even bring about the loss of lives, intensifying grief. Losing a loved one to the storm can lead to extreme shock and great emotional pain. As you struggle to come to terms with this sadness and suddenness of this loss, grief can become a central emotional response. The process of mourning can be complicated because you are also still dealing with the physical effects of the hurricane as well. This can make it hard to grieve in peace or find closure.
For support, our blog “Grief: How to Cope with Losing a Loved One” is a must-read.
3. PTSD
Just because the storm is over does not mean that your emotional state returns to a baseline level. The sudden and violent nature of a hurricane can leave a psychological imprint, causing some people to develop PTSD.
In the days and weeks after a hurricane, survivors may experience:
Flashbacks
Nightmares
Intrusive thoughts
Even the sound of thunder or wind rustling can trigger vivid memories of the hurricane, leading to extreme emotional distress. PTSD symptoms are often unpredictable which can make you feel like you are constantly reliving the storm, even when you are far removed from the actual event of the previous hurricane.
PTSD can impact your emotional stability, relationships, and ability to function. You may even begin to completely withdraw from social situations or avoid anything that reminds you of the storm. You may also struggle with guilt if you survived the storm and others did not, leading to the phenomenon known as “survivor’s guilt.”
To learn more, check out our blog “Everything You Need to Know About CBT for PTSD.”
4. Emotional Exhaustion and Fatigue
In the aftermath of a hurricane, it is completely normal to feel both physically and emotionally exhausted. There are a lot of hard decisions you have to make around the time of a hurricane. Do you have to secure shelter? Are you applying for disaster relief? What does the process look like for dealing with insurance claims? Do you have to find resources to help you rebuild? Constant worrying and having a lot on your plate can take a toll on your mental health, leaving you feeling emotionally drained.
These tasks are inherently overwhelming and, when you couple that with the uncertainty of the future, there is a sense of fatigue that goes beyond mere tiredness. The stress of rebuilding and recovery can become a daily burden. To learn more, check out our blog “Everything You Need to Know About Stress Management Therapy.”
Emotional fatigue can manifest as:
Feelings of hopelessness
Irritability
Depression (Take our Depression Quiz to find out more information)
Survivors often find it hard to concentrate or make decisions since their mental and emotional energy is depleted. The endless paperwork and waiting for assistance can leave you feeling frustrated, making the rebuilding process even more overwhelming.
Dealing with logical matters all day long may leave you feeling “numb” or disconnected from your emotions. Emotional exhaustion can make the recovery process even more difficult, showcasing a deep need for emotional support in disaster relief efforts.
5. Loss of Stability and Sense of Security
Hurricanes destroy much more than your home and neighborhood, they uproot your sense of security and stability that you rely on. Hurricanes have a sudden and violent nature that can shatter your sense of safety, leaving you in a very vulnerable position.
Many people equate their home to be a sanctuary where you are protected from the outside world but, when a hurricane destroys that safe space, it can be hard to regain a sense of stability. You may even feel powerless, increasings feelings of insecurity that you may be facing.
Even as you begin to rebuild, the mere threat of future storms may make it hard for you to fully relax or feel at ease. Your sense of insecurity may be so strong that you choose to relocate entirely. For others, the process of getting back on your feet may be a gradual one as you work to regain your sense of control and safety in the face of nature’s unpredictability.
How do you deal with hurricane anxiety?
Dealing with hurricane anxiety can be very overwhelming, especially if you are in a region where a storm previously occurred. The uncertainty surrounding when and where a hurricane may strike can trigger a lot of stress and even panic.
Signs of hurricane anxiety can occur both physically and emotionally often as a response to fear surrounding the weather. Here are some common signs to look out for:
Sleep disturbances (Read our blog “How CBT Can Help With Your Insomnia”)
Constant worry and fear
Obsessive monitoring of weather updates
Feeling helpless or out of control (View our blog “7 Ways to Let Go of Control Issues”)
Difficulty concentrating or feeling irritable
Physical symptoms (Check out our blog “3 Ways to Manage Your Physical Anxiety Symptoms”)
One of the first ways you can deal with hurricane anxiety is by staying informed without becoming obsessed with the news. It is important to know accurate information about the weather but constant monitoring of storm updates can increase anxiety. You may want to limit the time you spend reading or watching the news, and set specific time for updates so your thoughts do not begin to spiral.
Preparation will also help with your hurricane anxiety. There are proactive steps you can take to ensure that you and your family are safe if another natural disaster rolls around. From creating an emergency plan to stocking up on essential supplies, you can rest assured knowing that you have done everything possible to protect yourself and your loved ones. This sense of readiness can allow you to face a future storm with more confidence.
Also, rest assured that it is okay to feel your feelings throughout this process. In other words, recognize and address your emotions. Anxiety is a very normal human response to a hurricane and not talking through your worries can cause them to grow. If your anxiety becomes overwhelming, do not be afraid to reach out to an anxiety therapist at Anchor Therapy. An anxiety counselor will help you find healthy coping skills that work for you, such as breathwork or meditation. To learn more about these calming tactics, check out our blogs “5 Breathwork Techniques to Decrease Anxiety” and “How Meditation Can Lead to Stress Reduction.”
How do you comfort someone in a hurricane?
Comforting someone during a hurricane is not an easy task given the high level of fear and uncertainty following the storm. The best thing you can do as a support system is stay calm and offer reassurance. When someone is scared and anxious, let them know that they are not alone in this and that you are there to offer your support. A calm and comforting presence can go a long way in relieving someone’s anxiety.
In addition to emotionally comforting someone, you can provide practical support. Maybe you gather supplies for them or make an evacuation plan. These small tasks can make the affected person feel more in control of their life and circumstances. Taking proactive steps together, such as organizing emergency kits, helps them build confidence in their abilities to handle the storm. Knowing that they are prepared may help ease their anxiety a little bit.
As a friend, it is also important to listen to and validate their feelings. It is natural for someone to feel stressed and scared during a hurricane. It is also okay for the affected person to express this without fear of judgment. Do not minimize their fears or try to talk them out of their feelings. Instead, you could validate what they are saying by responding with something along the lines of “It is a scary situation. I understand why you are feeling this way.” Being a compassionate listener can help your loved one feel less alone in their struggles.
The physical damage caused by hurricanes may be more visible, but the emotional toll is significant as well. The emotional consequences of a hurricane- ranging from anxiety and grief to PTSD- showcase how natural disasters can impact our mental health.
Victoria Scala
is the Social Media Manager, Intake Coordinator, and Community Engagement Director at Anchor Therapy in Hoboken, New Jersey. She is a graduate of the Honors College of Rutgers University-Newark and is currently studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the graduate level. In her roles, Victoria is committed to managing the office’s social media/community presence and prioritizing clients' needs.
IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR HELP FROM A PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR TO ASSIST YOU IN MAKING POSITIVE CHANGES IN YOUR LIFE, CONTACT US
WORKING WITH US IS EASY
Fill out the contact form below.
Our intake coordinator will get back to you with more information on how we can help and to schedule an appointment. We will set you up with an experienced licensed therapist who specializes in what you're seeking help with and who understands your needs.
You’ll rest easy tonight knowing you made the first step to improve your life.
