If you have directly or indirectly experienced a natural disaster or other traumatic event, you may go through some of these common reactions: overwhelming feelings of panic and fear, uncontrollable obsessive thoughts, concentration problems, difficulty sleeping, substance abuse, changes in appetite, and physical symptoms such as feeling sick to your stomach, heart pounding, startling easily, and muscle tension. It is typical to have trouble coping after a disaster or traumatic event. However, if you don’t learn how to deal with the anxiety and get help, it may be damaging to your health.
