Possible reactions following a disaster

A disaster is a sudden and unpredictable event that can cause serious harm to people or significant property damage. For example, it might be:

• a flood;
• an earthquake;
• a tornado;
• a fire;
• a killing;
• an industrial accident.

A disaster disrupts daily life from a physical, psychological, social, material, financial and environmental perspective.

Everyone experiences a disaster in their own way. People might respond physically, emotionally and with unusual behaviours.

Physical reactions may include:

• headache;
• loss of appetite;
• difficulty sleeping;
• muscle tension;
• fatigue;
• stomach pain;
• palpitations;
• stress.

Psycho-emotional reactions may include:

• anxiety;
• confusion;
• difficulty concentrating;
• powerlessness;
• despair;
• guilt;
• fear that the event will happen again;
• sadness;
• denial;
• depressive feelings;
• flashbacks (sudden mental images of what happened);
• difficulty making decisions;
• nightmares;
• anger;
• aggression.

Behavioural reactions may include:

• isolation;
• agitation;
• irritability and anger;
• conflicts with loved ones;
• avoidance of the place where the event occurred;
• passiveness;
• the use of alcohol, drugs or medication;
• crying.

In addition, such events can lead us to question the meaning of life. For example:

• A feeling of injustice: “Why me?’ “Why them?”;
• Difficulty understanding what is currently happening;
• A need to find a meaning to ascribe to this event;
• Difficulty in returning to a life that they find satisfactory;
• Feeling exhausted and losing hope for a better future.

Reactions after a disaster are usually short in duration. For some people, these reactions can be more intense and last longer. They might also happen later on. Some situations might also bring back difficult and unpleasant memories. Reactions can vary depending on the person’s age, state of health and the impacts suffered from the disaster.

Children react according to their age and tend to imitate the reactions of those around them. Members of the same family may have different reactions. Reactions may be influenced by beliefs, values and the support available to the person.

It is important to remember that these reactions are normal in an abnormal situation.

Some people who have survived a disaster and may have witnessed traumatic scenes may have more painful post-traumatic reactions.

Reactions that cause people to feel they are constantly reliving the event:

• repetitive and invasive memories of the event (images, thoughts, perceptions);
• recurrent nightmares;
• a strong feeling that the event will recur;
• flashbacks (sudden mental images of what happened);
• feelings of distress and intense and uncontrollable reactions when they see images or hear the event being discussed.

Avoidance reactions:

• efforts to avoid anything that might remind them of the event (thoughts, feelings, activities, conversations, television images);
• an inability to remember certain important aspects of the event;
• a loss of interest in activities they enjoyed before the event;
• difficulty with expressing their emotions;
• isolation from their loved ones;
• the feeling that no future is possible.

Physical reactions and hypervigilance reactions:

• persistent fatigue;
• nausea, stomach pain;
• muscle pains, pressure in the chest, tightness in the throat;
• headaches, dizziness;
• startled reactions (jumpiness);
• palpitations, trembling, sweating.