Here we go again… has this thought crossed your mind the past couple of days?
You might be bracing yourselves for the effects of yet another major weather event. The floods from late February to early March are still fresh in our minds. It is not surprising that many of us may be feeling anxious, nervous, stressed, frustrated and apprehensive about how the following days will unfold.
These significant and extreme weather events seem to be occurring more regularly and with devastating community impacts. Experiences of these events can cause anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues. For those impacted by recent flood events, the current weather conditions could trigger traumatic responses.
We often experience anxiety at times like these because we feel a sense of threat, our safety is in danger, we may become isolated due to flooding, we could lose income due to not being able to get to work, our power and water could be cut off, and we could lose possessions due to weather-related damage. Not to mention the disruption to our daily lives, lack of predictability of everyday events, and heightened state of arousal. I was just thinking about this myself last night when it took every ounce of concentration I had to get home safely on the wet roads – it left me feeling tense and tired.
It is normal to experience this heightened state of arousal and distressed state, it keeps us safe in dangerous situations by ensuring we are alert and ready to act to protect ourselves. Many of us will respond with resilience and experience personal growth as a result of overcoming challenges. However, others may struggle to deal with feelings of anxiety, experience exhaustion, have difficulty sleeping, and feel defeated. If this sounds like you, you certainly aren’t alone.
So how do we look after ourselves and each other when we are feeling challenged by uncontrollable weather events happening around us?
First of all, lets be kind to ourselves and each other – check in with your friends, family and neighbours. Here are some tips that we might consider:
Tips for individuals
Try to stay calm and focus on what’s important – we cannot control the weather, only how we respond to it. Find activities to do that help you remain calm and avoid over-worrying about things you can’t control or predict.
Take a break from news coverage – it is important to stay informed and get important safety information, but constantly watching coverage of weather events and natural disasters can increase feelings of stress and anxiety. Consider where your best source of information is – it could be the local council, police service or trusted news outlets – and rely on these for updates.
Seek support – reach out to friends or family members to talk if you are feeling concerned. There is professional help available if you need it also. If you or someone you know is in distress, you can call Lifeline 13 11 14, Beyond Blue 1300 224 636, the Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467, or Kids Helpline 1800 551 800.
Tips for organisations
Ensure employees feel supported and there are reasonable expectations about their attendance at work – even just being out on the wet roads is enough to make any feels anxious. Be prepared to be flexible.
Check in with employees – especially those you know have previously been impacted. Let them know where they can go for support, talk to a manager, colleagues and promote your Employee Assistance Program, if you have one.
Ensure people aren’t overworking – disruptions due to weather can cause delays for many industries, and those that miss time off work may also feel they have a lot of catching up to do. Monitor workloads and ensure employees aren’t doing lots of overtime and becoming exhausted.
Reach out for support from a Psychologist
If you would like more information or to discuss how we can support you with these issues in your own life or in your organisation, please get in contact with us.
Further reading
Looking for more tips?! There are lots of great resources online. Here are a few you might be interested in: