Anxiety is the Aftermath: Helping Children Cope with Natural Disaters

Dr. R. Fred Zuker is a featured monthly columnist in the Education section of The Jackson Sun

Anxiety is the Aftermath: Helping Children Cope with Natural Disasters

Katrina left devastation, death and destruction in her wake. The scale of suffering may be unprecedented in American history. One of the additional miseries of an event of this magnitude is the impact on children and the insecurity and anxieties that may be created in the minds of those directly affected and others who were witness to the tragedy through the media and the eyes of their parents, families and friends.

Children react differently to traumatic events. Age and developmental level will determine how many children react. Younger children may be unable to verbalize their anxieties but their body language and changes in general behavior may belie underlying nervousness. Children who are unable to sleep, have nightmares or lose their appetites may be showing symptoms of stress.

When children view the images of the storm and its effects they may feel sadness, fear or uncertainty about their homes and families. It is important for parents to acknowledge these feelings and not be dismissive or minimize the significance of events such as a great storm or other trauma. Children who want to talk about these events should be encouraged to do so but television exposure to disturbing pictures should be limited even though it may be difficult to turn away from the continuous coverage.

Children who have experienced similar events such as the storms of 2003 in Jackson may have a recurrence of the fear they felt during the earlier emergency. This revisiting of the old fears may be alleviated somewhat by explaining that the storms being talked about in the news will not affect us in the same way. Smaller children may think the storm is still going on since it is being talked about and on the television many days after the actual event.

Reassurance that the child is safe and that other members of the family who do not live at home are also safe will soothe some of the fears of younger children. Telling younger children that there are good people who are helping those people who were hit by the storm will help. Doctors, nurses, the military and the police are some of the people helping those who were put in danger by the storm. Keeping the family routine intact will also help allay the fears of children who sense that things are different because of this tragedy.

Children, especially older children are hanging on every word they hear from parents about such disasters. They will take their cues from parents about how they are to react to such events. Parents who are careful to be realistic but not excessive in describing such events will help children keep these frightening things in perspective. Expressions of anger or disgust at how these events are being managed may cause unwanted reactions in the minds of impressionable children. They will listen to all your words and form their opinions based on all they hear, not necessarily what you want them to hear.

These terrible tragedies also offer opportunities to teach children that they can help in times of great need. Engaging the children in relief efforts by gathering needed goods to send to the storm survivors or helping families that have been evacuated to their area are all good ways to help children understand the importance of providing assistance to those in need.

The following steps can be taken to help children cope with events like Katrina:

• Monitor your child’s feelings and general behavior. If they exhibit unusual behaviors or anxiety they may be reacting to the traumatic event.
• Validate your child’s feelings of insecurity or anxiety. It is understandable to be upset about something so frightening.
• Reassure your child that they are safe and others in the family are safe. Give them physical assurances and keep them close as they process their fears.
• Remain calm yourself and remember that your children are listening carefully to every word you utter about the disaster and will take cues for their reaction from you.
• Keep the family routine intact with meals and schedules as close to normal as possible and understand the need for children to be physically closer than usual.
• Use these events as opportunities to teach the virtue of helping those who are in need when you have plenty. Volunteering for disaster relief activities will form a life lesson.

Parents who understand that children are susceptible to the psychological effects of natural disasters will be much better able to help them adjust positively to the effects of such events. Helping children maintain a healthy process of understanding and assisting those hurt will provide the child with a bright light to use to deal with the darkness of fear that is a natural part of our world.