When Mother Nature Fires back
Nancy O'Connor PhD
http://www.lamariposapress.com
When Mother Nature Fires Back
CATASTROPHIC LOSSES -MOTHER NATURE
The people who lost their homes in the recent California
fires are suffering from multiple catastrophic losses.
These losses are sudden, senseless, unexpected and unjust.
The survivors are left with a special set of problems, and
the mourning period is prolonged, pending legal mandates,
insurance or FEMA assistance. Frequently the anger stage is
extended until financial and legal issues have been
resolved.
Mother Nature
The awesome power of nature can be overwhelming. Human
beings are at the mercy of the natural elements and
activity on our planet: wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes,
hurricanes, tsunamis, floods, avalanches and volcanic
eruptions claim many lives every year. Sometimes entire
communities have been wiped out due to a natural disaster.
The tsunamis in Southeast Asia in December of 2004 killed
230,000 people in a dozen countries. Many more died later
of hunger, and the recovery effort to rebuild the
survivors’ lives and communities continues. Many
people affected by this natural disaster are still without
critical infrastructure like roads, power, drainage, and
vegetation.
Hurricane Katrina, a category five hurricane, hit New
Orleans and the Gulf Coast in August 2005 with a vengeance,
leaving nearly two thousand dead, thousands more homeless,
and an estimated $84 billion dollars in damage.
The whole country rallied by donating blood and sending
money, clothes, and food to help the relief efforts, but
those who lost loved ones have no one to blame and must
grieve for those who died. Survivors experienced multiple
losses: their homes, clothes, and personal possessions,
many of which are irreplaceable – family photos and
paperwork, for example.
Fortunately, with modern technology we sometimes have
enough forewarning to evacuate, as the dreaded event gets
close. But this is only true of some disasters, and only
possible in developed countries.
These events may also cause sudden, unexpected deaths of
people and pets, and the grieving process must be done
after the fact and after the loss. There will be many
others who have gone through the experience with you, so
you will have a common experience of loss and you may be
able to comfort each other. But for your individual loss,
you will feel your own personal pain, and will need to
grieve and heal yourself in your own way.
The Trauma of Victimization
Initially people are grateful to survive, to be alive and
quickly conclude that what they have lost are just
“things.” When it is an act of nature there is
no one to blame. But it is different if it is proven that
an arsonist set the fire. Then grief will be focused on the
perpetrator of the crime. Relatives of victims suffer too.
The shock leaves everyone in a state of psychological
disruption and disorganization, unable to think clearly or
to make decisions. They will feel overwhelmed and
devastated by the shock their loss and the emotional pain
caused will last for a long time. As they pick through the
ashes they will remember what they can’t replace,
photos, collections, collectibles, art work, keepsakes and
other things that they were attached to. Difficult
decisions will need to be made—about rebuilding or
moving. Financial devastation will be an issue for many who
had no insurance or were underinsured.
They can't understand why this happened to them. It is
senseless. Their lives may be shattered in a variety of
ways. There may be other losses like a pet that
couldn’t be rescued, or perhaps a physical injury is
involved. People often suffer post-traumatic stress after
such losses and seeking counseling is a good thing to do.
Victims will grieve for multiple losses.
If a criminal act is involved then anger will be focused on
the legal system. Victim rights groups believe that
education of the public about how the criminal justice
system works is critical. This can be a long frustrating
process with no compensation at the end of the road, if the
person is indigent. A perpetrator who is arrested may get
out on bail, have his trial delayed for over a year, and
may go through several years of costly appeals before his
final punishment is carried out.
Healing grief is related how many losses suffered and how
you are able to put your life back together. There is no
right or wrong way to grieve, it is a process of emotional
healing and unique to every individual. Such a big loss
will put stress on your relationships. Be patient and
gentle with yourself and with family members.
----------------------------------------------------
This article was written by Nancy O'Connor Ph.D.. She
worked as a Psychotherapist for 23 years and was the
Director of the Grief and Loss Center in Tucson, Arizona
for 12 years . She is the author of the best selling book
Letting Go With Love: The Grieving Process and How to Grow
Up When You're Grown Up: Achieving Balance in Adulthood.
How To Talk To Your Doctor. Her books may be reviewed and
purchased at http://www.lamariposapress.com
http://www.lamariposapress.com
When Mother Nature Fires Back
CATASTROPHIC LOSSES -MOTHER NATURE
The people who lost their homes in the recent California
fires are suffering from multiple catastrophic losses.
These losses are sudden, senseless, unexpected and unjust.
The survivors are left with a special set of problems, and
the mourning period is prolonged, pending legal mandates,
insurance or FEMA assistance. Frequently the anger stage is
extended until financial and legal issues have been
resolved.
Mother Nature
The awesome power of nature can be overwhelming. Human
beings are at the mercy of the natural elements and
activity on our planet: wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes,
hurricanes, tsunamis, floods, avalanches and volcanic
eruptions claim many lives every year. Sometimes entire
communities have been wiped out due to a natural disaster.
The tsunamis in Southeast Asia in December of 2004 killed
230,000 people in a dozen countries. Many more died later
of hunger, and the recovery effort to rebuild the
survivors’ lives and communities continues. Many
people affected by this natural disaster are still without
critical infrastructure like roads, power, drainage, and
vegetation.
Hurricane Katrina, a category five hurricane, hit New
Orleans and the Gulf Coast in August 2005 with a vengeance,
leaving nearly two thousand dead, thousands more homeless,
and an estimated $84 billion dollars in damage.
The whole country rallied by donating blood and sending
money, clothes, and food to help the relief efforts, but
those who lost loved ones have no one to blame and must
grieve for those who died. Survivors experienced multiple
losses: their homes, clothes, and personal possessions,
many of which are irreplaceable – family photos and
paperwork, for example.
Fortunately, with modern technology we sometimes have
enough forewarning to evacuate, as the dreaded event gets
close. But this is only true of some disasters, and only
possible in developed countries.
These events may also cause sudden, unexpected deaths of
people and pets, and the grieving process must be done
after the fact and after the loss. There will be many
others who have gone through the experience with you, so
you will have a common experience of loss and you may be
able to comfort each other. But for your individual loss,
you will feel your own personal pain, and will need to
grieve and heal yourself in your own way.
The Trauma of Victimization
Initially people are grateful to survive, to be alive and
quickly conclude that what they have lost are just
“things.” When it is an act of nature there is
no one to blame. But it is different if it is proven that
an arsonist set the fire. Then grief will be focused on the
perpetrator of the crime. Relatives of victims suffer too.
The shock leaves everyone in a state of psychological
disruption and disorganization, unable to think clearly or
to make decisions. They will feel overwhelmed and
devastated by the shock their loss and the emotional pain
caused will last for a long time. As they pick through the
ashes they will remember what they can’t replace,
photos, collections, collectibles, art work, keepsakes and
other things that they were attached to. Difficult
decisions will need to be made—about rebuilding or
moving. Financial devastation will be an issue for many who
had no insurance or were underinsured.
They can't understand why this happened to them. It is
senseless. Their lives may be shattered in a variety of
ways. There may be other losses like a pet that
couldn’t be rescued, or perhaps a physical injury is
involved. People often suffer post-traumatic stress after
such losses and seeking counseling is a good thing to do.
Victims will grieve for multiple losses.
If a criminal act is involved then anger will be focused on
the legal system. Victim rights groups believe that
education of the public about how the criminal justice
system works is critical. This can be a long frustrating
process with no compensation at the end of the road, if the
person is indigent. A perpetrator who is arrested may get
out on bail, have his trial delayed for over a year, and
may go through several years of costly appeals before his
final punishment is carried out.
Healing grief is related how many losses suffered and how
you are able to put your life back together. There is no
right or wrong way to grieve, it is a process of emotional
healing and unique to every individual. Such a big loss
will put stress on your relationships. Be patient and
gentle with yourself and with family members.
----------------------------------------------------
This article was written by Nancy O'Connor Ph.D.. She
worked as a Psychotherapist for 23 years and was the
Director of the Grief and Loss Center in Tucson, Arizona
for 12 years . She is the author of the best selling book
Letting Go With Love: The Grieving Process and How to Grow
Up When You're Grown Up: Achieving Balance in Adulthood.
How To Talk To Your Doctor. Her books may be reviewed and
purchased at http://www.lamariposapress.com
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