These 7-Useful Tips Will Help You On Your Recovery After A Natural Disaster

When a nature strikes, no one is exempted, rich or poor, in position or not. We all equally suffer its devastating consequences.

Over the past week, some areas of the Philippines experienced heavy flooding. This was a result of the recent typhoons that struck the country.

The catastrophic event devastated not only one but hundreds of Filipino families. Some of them lost their businesses, others lost assets, but almost all of them lost their homes. Because of the tragedy, people aren't only affected physically but also mentally.

As another way of helping those severely affected, we gathered these 7-tips on how a person could gradually cope up with their losses. This will be a good start on your journey of acceptance and recovery.

1. Prepare yourself for a huge change

Upon witnessing the aftermath of the storm, prepare yourself for a burst of mixed emotions. It’s okay to feel sad and sick with everything that you have lost. Others could also experience depression due to trauma and grief. In this phase, we suggest that a person affected should surround himself with positive people to cheer and support them. This could be a friend, family, or loved ones.

2. It’s okay to grieve for your losses

It’s okay to cry and breakdown from time to time over your losses. Allow yourself to let loose of those feelings. Once you let out all the negative emotions, that's the time you will start to feel lighter.

3. Opening up to someone about how you feel

In this part, you don't have to force yourself to share with others what you feel. Talk when you're ready or want to. You can have someone, a friend, family, or even a therapist or support group. Look for someone you trust who's willing to lend you an ear.

4. Pay attention to your physical health.

After the traumatic experience that you've been through, those events will have a huge impact on your emotional health. That’s when the stress and anxiety come in. To prevent your health from deteriorating, indulge in physical activities. Exercise is a great stress reliever and distraction from what you are feeling right now.

5. Set up a daily routine

This will help you develop a positive and productive outlook in life. This daily routine should not be complicated, but rather should start with your habits. As simple as a morning walk or dropping by at a friend. Working out or doing yoga is another routine you might want to try on.

6. Keep yourself away from the news as of the moment

Seeing daily updates from the recent tragedy will only bring back the trauma and anxiety. It is much better to keep away from the things that will constantly remind you of what you have been through.

7. Limit your expectations

Keep in mind that your life will not be back to normal in a single snap. Understand that there is a process for everything. Cherish and work on every step of your journey. Understand your limits and your emotional capacity to handle things. Give time for yourself to recover after your loss.

Resources:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cope-rebuilding-natural-disaster_n_59c2a020e4b0186c220775c6