The Hidden Mental Health Crisis After Natural Disasters: What You Need to Know
Dr. Eric Fishon
University of Florida, University of Maine MA, Hellenic American University MBA, Nations University MDIV, MTH, Virginia University of Lynchberg DHA
Excerpts from upcoming book on Children and News/Trauma by Dr. Eric Fishon
Life can change in an instant. Just like Job faced sudden trials that tested his faith, nearly 2.5 million Americans watched their homes and communities crumble under nature's fury last year. The visible scars of destruction tell only half the story. Hidden beneath the rubble lies a deeper wound - one that touches not just homes, but hearts and minds.
Picture a ripple in still waters. The psychological aftermath spreads far wider than physical damage, touching lives with invisible hands of anxiety and fear. Studies reveal a sobering truth: up to 60% of survivors battle Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in the two years following disaster. This silent storm shows no favorites, yet its winds blow hardest against those already struggling - our elderly neighbors, disabled friends, minority communities, and families living paycheck to paycheck.
Your pain matters. Your story deserves to be heard. Through these words, we'll walk together through the valley of recovery, learning to recognize warning signs and discover healing paths. Whether disaster has touched your life directly or you're standing beside someone in their journey, God's promise of restoration guides our way. Let this be your companion through the shadows, lighting the path toward hope and healing.
Understanding Natural Disaster Trauma
Picture a mighty oak tree struck by lightning - its bark scarred, its branches shaken to the core. Like that tree, natural disasters leave lasting marks on our minds and hearts. The numbers tell a striking story: between 30% to 40% of direct disaster victims face post-traumatic stress disorder, far above the usual 5% to 19% seen in everyday life [3].
How trauma affects the brain
Think of your brain as a faithful watchman, always ready to sound the alarm. When disaster strikes, this watchman springs into action. Your body's emergency system - what doctors call the 'fight-or-flight' response - floods your system with stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol [3]. This natural shield, meant to protect you, can sometimes stay raised too long, making it harder to find peace and healing [2].
Just as a camera captures images differently in bright sunlight versus darkness, your brain processes traumatic memories unlike regular daily experiences. This explains why survivors often find their thoughts and feelings changed, even long after the storm has passed [2]. Simple things that once brought comfort might suddenly feel threatening, leaving you constantly on guard, like a sentry who cannot rest.
Common emotional responses
The heart's response to disaster speaks a universal language of pain and healing. Looking at stories from 22 nations, researchers found that between 5.8% and 87.6% of survivors faced significant emotional challenges [3]. These struggles took different shapes:
These reactions, what wise counselors call "common responses to uncommon events," [3] remind us that our feelings are normal signs of healing, not weakness. Like seasons of drought and plenty, these emotions may pass quickly or linger, depending on God's grace and the support we receive.
Physical symptoms of trauma
Our bodies hold their own testimony to trauma's touch. Many survivors feel its presence through:
These physical echoes of trauma often ring louder when daily life gets disrupted or homes are lost [3]. The pain grows deeper for those forced to leave their communities behind, as both body and spirit struggle to find solid ground [3].
Distance from disaster's epicenter matters too - like ripples in a pond growing fainter at the edges. Studies of earthquake survivors showed that those closest to the center carried the heaviest burden of symptoms [3]. This teaches us that healing's journey often matches the storm's intensity.
Early Warning Signs to Watch For
Just as the Bible teaches us to watch for signs in the heavens and earth, God gives us wisdom to recognize signs in our hearts and minds. The first weeks after disaster often reveal these signs, though some may sleep quietly before awakening months later [3].
Changes in sleep patterns
Night's rest, meant to refresh our spirits, often bears the first marks of a troubled soul. Like David who wet his pillow with tears, 94% of survivors struggle with sleep after disaster strikes [6]. Look for these midnight messengers:
These sleep battles might seem like passing storms, but research whispers a sobering truth: for many, they rage on for two years, with 42% of souls carrying heavy burdens of stress [6].
Shifts in daily behavior
The heart's wounds often speak through changed behaviors. Picture this: 22% of survivors find themselves walking through valleys of depression [6]. Joy dims like a setting sun, anger flares without cause, and beloved activities lose their sweetness [3].
Your body joins this testimony of pain. Headaches knock without invitation, stomachs twist in knots, and mysterious aches write their stories in your flesh [3]. Some dear ones seek comfort in old habits - cigarettes, bottles, or pills - trying to quiet the storm within [3].
Warning signs in children
Little ones carry their burdens differently, like tender saplings in strong winds. Our precious preschoolers (ages 3-6) might step backward in their growth, seeking mom's embrace more often or returning to wet beds [8]. School children (ages 7-10) show their struggles through trembling fears of classrooms and minds that wander like lost sheep [8].
Our teenagers walk their own paths of pain. Some rush headlong into danger's arms, while others build walls around their hearts [8]. These young souls often carry heavier loads of sadness and worry than their elders after disaster's touch [9].
When families lose their anchors - homes, schools, daily bread - these warning signs dig deeper roots [10]. Children torn from familiar ground or watching their world crack often show deeper wounds [7].
For families sheltering in temporary havens, the spirit's struggles grow like weeds [10]. Studies tell us flood survivors face a burden four to eight times heavier than others [10], reminding us that healing needs both time and tender care.
Hidden Impact on Different Age Groups
Like a storm that bends different trees in unique ways, disaster's touch leaves distinct marks on each season of life. God's wisdom helps us understand how these winds of change sweep through generations, shaping both immediate responses and long-term healing paths.
Children's unique responses
Little hearts carry heavy burdens in their own special way. Think of the children after Hurricane Katrina - 37% of these precious souls received diagnoses of depression, anxiety, or behavioral disorders [11]. Our tiniest ones, aged 1-5, often step backward in their journey, like tender shoots bending in strong winds, showing signs through wet beds and desperate holds on parent's hands [3].
School children walk through their own valleys of challenge. Studies speak of troubling numbers - 6-57% of young ones touched by nature's fury develop significant post-traumatic stress symptoms [3]. Their pain speaks through:
Adult coping mechanisms
Grown souls weather storms differently, yet each new disaster adds weight to their burden. Like Job's trials multiplying, each additional disaster increases mental distress chances by 1.41 times [2]. Daily life becomes a mountain to climb while carrying invisible wounds.
The body speaks what the heart holds - through pounding heads, troubled stomachs, and sleepless nights [12]. Those already carrying crosses of mental health struggles or past hurts face steeper paths to healing [13].
Elderly challenges
Our elders, like ancient olive trees, stand particularly vulnerable when storms rage. Research whispers sobering truths - our older friends are 2.11 times more likely to battle PTSD symptoms and 1.73 times more likely to struggle with adjustment compared to younger ones [14].
These precious souls face unique mountains:
For our elders walking in poverty's shadow, the journey grows harder still. Their hearts may not show their wounds until years have passed [16]. Like deep waters that rise slowly, their need for healing often surfaces long after storms have calmed [16].
Building a Support System
Remember how Moses needed Aaron and Hur to hold up his arms during battle? We too need supporting hands during life's storms. Communities bound by strong ties heal faster and stand taller after disaster strikes [17].
Family support strategies
Family bonds, like threads in a tapestry, need careful tending to stay strong. Blessed families who share their days and open their hearts to one another find smoother paths to healing [18]. Parents and caregivers become God's hands of comfort by:
When families join hands in solving problems and planning ahead, they find their way to a new season of life [19]. Little ones, given their own special roles in family talks, help strengthen the bonds that hold everyone together [19].
Community resources
The Lord provides help through many channels. SAMHSA's Crisis Counseling Program reaches out with healing hands in places where people gather [17]:
Like angels in disguise, over 3,000 licensed professionals volunteer through the Red Cross Disaster Mental Health program [20], offering their gifts of healing both face-to-face and across the digital divide.
SAMHSA's Disaster Distress Helpline stands as a lighthouse in the storm, shining 24/7 with help in many languages [17]. This beacon guides:
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Local support circles become sacred spaces where hearts find comfort. Research shows that sharing stories helps people realize they're not walking alone [12]. These gatherings become holy ground where understanding grows and hope takes root.
Professional counselors in community centers offer specialized care for wounded spirits [1]. Working hand in hand with local organizations, they ensure that both practical needs and heart-healing find their way to those in need [21].
Steps to Mental Wellness
Like Solomon's wisdom for daily living, finding peace after disaster requires both heavenly guidance and earthly practices. Those who tend to their spirit and body with faithful care find stronger paths to healing [22].
Daily coping techniques
Just as Daniel kept his daily prayers in Babylon, healing begins with sacred routines. Breaking bread at regular times, honoring your body's need for rest, and moving in God's creation helps calm troubled spirits [12]. The peace that passes understanding often comes through simple practices - breathing deeply, sitting quietly with the Lord, or finding stillness in His presence [18].
Your body is God's temple, worthy of tender care. Like manna in the wilderness, good food and pure water strengthen both body and spirit [18]. Movement becomes a form of praise, lifting both heart and health toward healing.
Remember how Ruth found strength in Naomi's company? We too need faithful friends walking beside us. Studies confirm what scripture has always taught - breaking bread together, sharing stories, and lifting each other up brings healing [18].
Guard your heart and mind carefully. Like Joshua facing Jericho's walls, we must choose our battles wisely. Too much news of destruction weighs heavy on the spirit [18]. Seek truth from trusted voices while protecting your peace.
When to seek help
The Good Shepherd knows when His sheep need special care. Watch for these signs that professional guidance might light your path [4]:
Those already carrying crosses of mental health struggles or substance battles need extra grace and early help [4]. Like the Samaritan who stopped to help, trained healers offer specialized care for hearts wounded by trauma, depression, and grief [23]. Their early wisdom often lights shorter paths to healing [23].
Support circles, like the early church gatherings, provide sacred spaces for sharing burdens. Research echoes scripture's truth - when we bear one another's burdens, healing flows more freely [12]. These groups become modern upper rooms where hope is shared and hearts are lifted.
Remember David, who sought help in his darkest hours? Reaching out shows wisdom, not weakness [24]. God's healing often flows through the hands of trained counselors, offering help shaped for your unique journey. Even one conversation can plant seeds of hope and healing [23].
Long-term Recovery Strategies
Like the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, healing from disaster follows a path that stretches beyond the first steps of survival. Just as they learned new ways of living, studies show our journey of recovery often spans months or years [1].
Creating new routines
Remember how Noah built a new life after the flood? Today's survivors must also craft fresh patterns of living. Research speaks hope: returning to regular rhythms helps steady shaken spirits [1]. Start with these foundation stones:
Like clay in the potter's hands, we shape a "new normal" rather than trying to rebuild exact copies of past days [1]. The path winds like mountain streams - some days flow smooth, others rush wild with emotion. Understanding this truth helps gentle hearts find peace with the journey [1].
Professional help options
God sends helpers for every season. Studies show that specialized care matters deeply, especially for those carrying extra burdens of previous hurts, money worries, or complex wounds [1].
The Crisis Counseling Program stands like Aaron's rod, offering support through:
Yet some of our brothers and sisters find these doors harder to open [9]. That's why special programs now reach out with personal recovery maps for each soul's journey [25].
Building resilience
Like seeds that sprout after forest fires, most hearts carry natural strength for renewal. Research shows many find their footing within months [12]. Still, building lasting strength needs both grace and guidance.
Communities bound together stand stronger - like stones in ancient walls. Studies confirm that neighborhoods knit tight with care heal better [5]. Even more beautiful: those who reach out to help others often find their own hearts strengthened [26].
Sometimes, like Joseph in Egypt, what meant us harm becomes a source of growth. Understanding this possibility helps lift eyes toward hope [1]. Keys to lasting recovery include:
Life's various threads - our gender, abilities, homes, and daily bread - weave together to either shield or expose us to trauma's touch [9]. Success in healing often flows from tending all these garden paths with care [9].
The journey stretches long, calling for faithful companions and steady help in places touched by storms [9]. Watch with special tenderness during milestone moments and anniversary seasons, when old wounds might whisper again [1].
Conclusion
Life's storms leave marks deeper than the eye can see. Just as Jesus calmed the raging waters, today's survivors need healing for their troubled spirits. Studies whisper a sobering truth: 30-40% of precious souls carry the weight of PTSD after disaster strikes. Young and old walk different paths through this valley, yet one truth rings clear - no one should walk alone.
Think of healing like building Solomon's temple - each stone laid with purpose and time. Wise counselors stand ready with healing hands, while community groups and crisis helpers become stepping stones across troubled waters. These helping hands know how to tend hearts wounded by sadness, fear, and grief.
Dear friend, reaching for help shows wisdom like David seeking God in his darkest hours. Your journey toward wholeness needs both heaven's grace and earth's support - daily bread, faithful friends, and trained helpers who understand your heart's cry.
Take heart! Your path is your own, blessed with its own sacred timing. Each small victory deserves celebration, each step forward honors your courage. Together - like stones fitted perfectly in God's wall - we build something beautiful from brokenness. Our communities rise stronger, our hearts grow wider, and hope blooms again in desert places.
About the Author: Dr. Eric Fishon (aka Dr. Disruptor)
Dr. Eric Fishon, known as Dr. Disruptor, is an author, advocate, and changemaker on a mission to rewrite the narrative around unseen disabilities. As someone who has fought tirelessly for disability rights, educational inclusion, and systemic change, he refuses to accept a world where neurodiverse individuals are overlooked, dismissed, or forced to conform to outdated norms.
Through his powerful work in children’s literature, public speaking, and advocacy, he founded XTERMIGATOR KIDS, a book series and movement dedicated to helping kids with ADHD, autism, anxiety, and chronic fatigue syndrome see themselves as the heroes of their own stories.
?? XTERMIGATOR KIDS: More Than Books, A Revolution for Inclusion
Featuring engaging characters like Freddie the Frog (ADHD) and Ava the Fox (Autism), the series creates a safe space for kids to embrace their differences, understand their strengths, and navigate the world with confidence.Xtermigator Kids
?? Dr. Disruptor: Breaking Barriers & Rewriting the Rules
Taking on the persona of Dr. Disruptor wasn’t about creating a brand—it was about disrupting broken systems. After facing institutional failures, discrimination, and retaliation for simply demanding his legally required accommodations, he turned adversity into action. Now, he fights for change, amplifies unheard voices, and works to ensure representation and inclusion in education, media, and society.
Dr. Fishon isn’t just telling stories—he’s starting a movement.
?? Join the Movement
?? Spread the word – Share Xtermigator Kids with parents, educators, and kids who need to see themselves represented.
?? Start the conversation – Challenge workplaces, schools, and communities to do betterfor people with unseen disabilities.
?? Be unapologetically YOU – The world changes when we stop trying to fit in and start embracing who we really are. Join the Challenge to make a change in your own life Facebook-Dr. Disruptor
Because different isn’t a problem—it’s a superpower.
#XtermigatorKids #DrDisruptor #DisruptTheNarrative #UnseenDisabilities #InclusionMatters #DifferentIsBeautiful
References
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